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 Groton & Stonington Street Railway Co. Financial Data 1905-1916

ahead until the following one came in sight,

Extra and special cars were numerous during the summer months for there was heavy pleasure riding over the line during its early years. For a time the company gave free band concerts every Sunday afternoon during pleasant weather, the concert being held at a different point on the line each week.

Another attraction for pleasure riders was the casino at Wequeteouock, approximately half way between Stonington and Westerly. This casino, which contained the largest dancing pavilion in south-eastern Connecticut at that time was not owned by the railway, but it did stimulate traffic on the cars—sometimes to the extent or 500 or 600 passengers. The Groton & Stonington built a station near the casino—and it also carried casino employes free or charge.

Waiting stations were also provided at Noank and Stonington; comfortable waiting rooms were fitted up at Mystic, Groton and Westerly, and seats and shelters were erected at various points on the line. A station constructed of fieldstone was later provided at Groton Long point.

Groton & Stonington cars, incidentally, did not actually enter Westerly, the tracks ending about midway on the Pawcatuck River bridge, at the state line. it was only a few steps.,however, to the Pawcatuck Valley Street Railway tracks at Main and Broad streets, Westerly and close connections were made with Pawcatuck Valley cars for the Westerly depot and Watch Hill.

An interesting sidelight to the operations of the Groton & Stonington was that the motormen and conductors wore khaki uniforms during the summer months and regulation blue at other times of the year. The khaki attire was cooler and less costly than the blue and hence extra men hired during the rush season were not obliged to make a heavy cash outlay for uniforms.

Fares & Tickets

HE GROTON & STONINGTON had six 5-cent fare zones—from the Groton terminal to Poquonnock bridge; from the bridge to Noank; from Noank to Mystic; from Mystic to Stonington; from Stonington to Wequetequock; and from Wequetequock to the end of the line.

The first zone in Groton included the ferry trip across the Thames River to or from New London, special boat–to–car or car–to–boat transfers's being given to Now London passengers. These transfers were alike in main features but were worded in accordance with their use and were of different colors.

During 1906, the Groton & Stonington introduced workingmen's tickets, selling at the rate of 80 for $3 These ware good from 5 a. m. to 7 p. in on weekdays only. Fifty-ride books for school children were sold for $1.50, the tickets being valid between 7 a m. and 5 p. m. on school days only. A few complimentary tickets and passes good for six rides a day for 30 days were distributed from time to time to "friends" of the railway.

Special cars were available at

STREET RAILWAY waiting room, west Broad Street, Westerly, R. I. , with a car of the Groton & Stonington Street Railway outbound to Groton and New London.