Page:Shore Line Electric Railway Predecessor Companies 1961.pdf/18

 $68,48.90, this was more than offset by $21,000 in taxes, $67,778 in interest and $39,937 in rentals.

The shore Lines copper zone tare system was extended to the Norwich 5. westerly lines on November 1. 1915, in an effort to increase revenues. but as on the shore Line the increased income was used in granting necessary wage increases to trainmen. The loss for the year ended June 30, 1916, was $46,913.78, and on that date the Norwich it westerly had liabilities at $307,554 in addition to its bonded indebtedness.

The early officials of the Norwich & Westerly included A. E. Locke, president; H. M. Verriil, vice-president; A. E. Sherman. secretary. and R. W. Perkins. treasurer and general manager. S. J. Kehoe was superintendent.

Officials in 1916 included Morton F, Plant, chairman of the board of directors; R. W, Perkins, president: A, E. Locke, vice—president; A, E. Sherman, secretary and treasurer; G. W. Geer, auditor: S. Andersun, general manager. and C. E, Elliott, superintendent.

Coincident with its consolidation with the shore Line Electric Railway company on July 1, 1916. the Norwich & Westerly absorbed the Ashaway & Westerly Railway—which being a Rhode Island corporation could not be directly merged into the shore Line system.

New London & East Lyme Street Railway Co.

HE NEW LONDON & LYME Street Railway Company came into being in 1899 as the East Lyme Street Railway,chartered on May 17th to build from the city of New London through Waterford to Niantic and Crescent Beach in the town of East Lyme.

The act of incorporation was extended for two years in 1901, the company finally organizing on February 7, 1903 The charter was once more extended in 1903—and again in 1905—with a change of name to New London & East Lyme Street Railway occurring on December 1, 1904, by decree of the superior court of New London County.

Construction began in March of 1905, The route beginning at Town Hill, near the intersection of Bank Street and Montauk Avenue in New London, and paralleling the Boston Post Road (then called the Lyme Turnpike) to Niantic River Road in Waterford.

Running south on Niantic River Road a short distance, the tracks crossed a pile trestle spanning Smith Cove, and then paralleled Oswegatchie Road to its junction with Boston Post Road at Keeney's corner.

Running alongside the post Road again, the line crossed the Niantic River on another trestle and continued on to Flanders corner in East Lyme The tracks then turned south and extended to Niantic station on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.

Seventy-pound "T" roll was used in constructing the line and the overhead consisted of 10 miles or side bracket and one mile of span wire suspension, As built, the route was 11 miles long, with .l4 mile of sidings and turnouts, for a total 11.14 single track miles.

A three-bay, six-track concrete block carhouse, with substation adjoining, was built on Niantic River Road, near its intersection with the Boston Post Road.

Rolling stock included 3 double truck closed cars, Nos. 4, 6 and 8; a double truck combination passengerr baggage car, No. 2; and live 14-bench double truck open Cars, Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, all built by the southern car company of High Point, N. C., and one snow plow.

Passenger cars were equipped with Baldwin short wheelbase trucks, four Westinghouse 101B (40 hp.) motors, Type M controllers with C-6 master controllers;

INSPECTION TRIP on New London & East Lyme Street Railway about to leave Bank street at Cannonball Park, New London, October 5, 1905.—From the collection of Charles F. Munger.