Grand Rapids streetcars up for preservation....or destruction

[GP30M4216]

Many fans might know by loosely familiar with the streetcar fleet "buried in the woods" near Windber, PA. Lines of PCCs originally from Boston, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Shaker Heights, and elsewhere are now full of trees and other greenery not associated with Boston's "Green Line."


Among the better preserved pieces among this collection are two 1910-built Grand Rapids City Railway streetcar bodies built by American Car Company that have been languishing but protected inside one of the buildings. These are likely the only 20th Century streetcars which remain from the Grand Rapids street railway system. Scrapping and demolition are potentially on the table if other arrangements cannot be made to preserve them elsewhere. The cars are GRRy 343 and 346. Here's a photo of one of them, this is the more complete of the two:


Learn more about this equipment and the potential disposition: https://pnaerc.blogspot.com/2023/05/the ... _kPsd8q_ec

[Doktor No]

My grandfather was a streetcar conductor back in the day in GR. I would bet he probably rode in one of these from time to time and collected fares.

[NS3322]

Grand Rapids Public Museum told me they are unable to take them.

[MQT1223]

Grand Rapids Public Museum told me they are unable to take them.

Supposedly the GRPM has two cars already in long term storage, but this has been debated.

Either way, the fact that they refused two of the rarest interurban cars left in existence is sad. Maybe the Lost Railway Museum in Grass Lake would take them. They aren't rare for the builder, but for their association. Grand Rapids was the second municipality to completely ditch their streetcar network in the nation only behind San Antonio, doing so in the height of the depression in 1932.

Most of Michigan's interurbans disappeared early due to the automobile and the state's geography, so any Michigan Interurban cars are very rare today. Memorabilia is equally as scarce too.