It looks like the remains of a street car. I remember Schoeps Ice Cream. Were could we get a model of little you on a trike?
A couple of questions come to mind. First, is that a streetcar or an interurban car? Is anyone here enough of an expert on electric traction to know offhand? Second, Candy, the little vignettes of everyday life you post both tell a story and display excellent mood, modeling and scene composition. Could you favor us with an overview of your layout progress as it is, perhaps in weekend photo fun? We don't care if it's small, unfinished or whatever. Just would like to see what your ideas are and the way your great scenes fit together- or is the allure in the mystery?
I do know of one of these that still exists today. It's in Castroville, California about 60 mile from our home and my wife and I have eaten there several times. It was originally an interurban car that ran on the lower deck of the San Fransisco - Oakland bay bridge. When the rail service across the bridge was discontinued in favor of more auto traffic in the late 1950's, the interurban cars were purchased by a company that converted them into small restaurants. This particular one has had a building attached to it so that the car itself is only the dining room and the kitchen is in the building. Below is a street view photo dated May 2019. On a visit there in August of 2017 we found this kitten in the area just to the right in the above photo. No one at the restaurant or the tire shop next door knew where he had come from and he had been there for a couple days. He was very hungry and shaking so we brought him home and on the drive back we decided to name him Trolley. Today he is a healthy and happy cat.
I think one of the differences between a trolley or tram and an interurban is that the interurban has fewer stops and may have actual stations. Where I grew up in Los Angeles we had street cars which ran in the streets and had trolley poles. Those stopped a many locations like the buses that replaced them. There had also been the Pacific Electric which had actual stations which could be a mile or more apart.
It has been my understanding that there were some design and construction differences between streetcars and interurbans, the latter being built to steam road standards. Any traction folks here who can elaborate?
This is a Birney city car. Models are available in most scales. Anyhow challenge accepted...N scale no less.
There is a distinction between interurban, suburban and street transit vehicles. Sometimes the lines blurred a but but the biggest factor is speed. A street railway (tram) functions just like a modern city transit system. A suburban railway like the Shaker Heights rapid transit makes more stops between downtown and the suburbs. An interurban serves two or more cities and operates at high speeds between them. Another fundamental difference are the types of seats, street railway seats are rough, meant for short rides. Suburban seats are a bit better for a longer ride to the suburbs. Interurban seats are plush and meant for a ride longer than an hour. Its hard to believe but almost all of the street railways, suburban electric railways and interurbans were private companies that were in the business to make money.
Things sure were different for our parents and grandparents. I grew up on a farm outside a little city of 2,300 north of Green Bay, WI.
Not a rail car, but looks like one at first glance. It was purpose built as a diner. I always thought this would also be a great model scene. Red Rose Diner, Towanda, PA This was our favorite dinner but sadly it has closed. Red Rose was manufactured in a factory, then shipped on wagon wheels. I believe this is it's 3rd location. Note the Ladies Invited over the doors!