Tag Archives: Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts, November 3, 2014

Electric Streetcar and Old Mills.

 The National Historic Park at Lowell has transformed 19th century textile mills into interpretive museums. Connecting various museums is a recreated historic streetcar line using electrified former Boston & Maine mill spurs. Most of the time authentic looking replica cars are the order of the day.

A Boston & Maine Alco-built 0-6-0 is also on display.

Lowell's historic trolley gives visitors a feeling for what it was like to ride a streetcar. Canon EOS 7D with 20mm lens.
Lowell’s historic trolley gives visitors a feeling for what it was like to ride a streetcar. Canon EOS 7D with 20mm lens.
The classic looking cars look good among the old brick mill buildings. Canon EOS 7D photo.
The classic looking cars look good among the old brick mill buildings. Canon EOS 7D photo.

I visited briefly on my way through town and exposed a few photos of the streetcar against the urban backdrop. On previous visits I’ve traveled on the trolleys and made more extensive photographic studies.

Boston & Maine 410 is a static display at Lowell. It is one of only a few surviving Boston & Maine steam locomotives. Canon EOS 7D
Boston & Maine 410 is a static display at Lowell. It is one of only a few surviving Boston & Maine steam locomotives. Canon EOS 7D

However, owing to the late season, the trolley was working a very limited schedule, and my time was short, so I didn’t go for a spin this time.

Lowell 4131 is a replica of a Brill streetcar. Lumix LX7 photo.
Lowell 4131 is a replica of a Brill streetcar. Lumix LX7 photo.

The Lowell trolley is among historic operations covered in the final chapter of my latest book, Streetcars of America, co-authored with John Gruber, by Shire Publications. In this compact 64-page soft-cover volume, John and I offer a concise look at streetcars in North America and feature a variety of vintage and contemporary images, including many made by my father, Richard J. Solomon, on Kodachrome film.

It is priced at under $10, and a bargain at that!

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