Page:Shore Line Electric Railway Predecessor Companies 1961.pdf/19

 straight air brakes and van Dam drawbars, All cars had steam coach roots and were fitted with Providence drop tenders.

The three closed cars had bodies approximately 41 feet long, with five large double windows on each side, and the combination car had three double windows like those on the other cars. All the passenger cars were equipped for multiple unit operation, but there is no record or their being run regularly in trains.

The New London & East Lyme's open ears were the first to arrive and were hauled by teams of four and six horses from the Hallam street freight yard in New London over city trackage to Town Hill and thence to Cannonball Park (a base-ball field near the Waterford-New London town line) where the railway had constructed a temporary spur track. The cars were wired for operation there and later were run to the watertord carhouse.

Early Operations

HE FIRST CAR, No. 7, ran from New London to the Golden spur inn, near the Waterford-East Lyme town line, on October 5, 1905, regular service beginning two days later, and the same car entered Niantic on October 29th. However. according to the Railroad Commissioners' report, regular service to Niantic did not begin until December 7th.

Early schedules called (or so minute service between New London and Niantic during summer months, with an hourly headway at other times, The distance from New London Parade to the end of the line at Niantic was 1l.72 miles and the running time was one hour.

The New London 54 East Lyme held trackage rights over the New London Division or the consolidated Railway. Connecticut Company predecessor, from the Parade in downtown New London to Town Hill via Bank street, a distance of .72 mlle).

Basic fare on the line was 5 cents, with four zones between New London and Niantic: from New London Parade to the Jewish cemetery, Waterford; from the cemetery to Golden spur; from Golden spur to Comstoclts (between Flanders and Niantic and from Comstocks to Niantic (later to crescent Beach). commuter tickets were sold in books of do for $3.00 and school tickets were available in books at 25 for 75 cents.

Express and freight service was provided by the combination ear. which, according to a 1910 time-table. made three morning trips from New London to Niantic and two trips, also in the morning, from Niantic to New London. The New London & East Lyme had a small freight shed at the corner of Bank and spring streets, at the loot at Town Hill.

Freight and express rates were as follows:

The rate table noted that all express and freight charges were to be postpaid—and that light packages could be shipped on any passenger car.

Power

OWER for the New London at East Lyme street Railway initially was supplied by the New London Gas 5. Electric company, a 4.500 volt transmission line extending to the Waterford substation, which was equipped with two 300 Kw. rotary converters.

Late in line, arrangements were made to secure power from the shore Line Electric Railways Saybrook station, and during February and March of 1911. the Aetna construction company of New Haven laid a submarine cable under the Connecticut River between Saybrook and old Lyme and constructed a 11,000 volt high tension line from old Lyme to Waterford.

COMBINATION Car No. 2 of the New London & East Lyme Street Railway shown at Niantlc It made two morning round trips daily, Niantic and New London. This car was transferred to the Norwich & westerly Division in me and was renumbered as their car 20.