Ideosyncratic Combines

Combination cars #14 and #15 outside the foundry. These two cars were originally built by Laconia Car Company for the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn, a 3'-gauge suburban road in Massachusetts. Both were among a batch of fine passenger stock picked up by the EBT at fire sale prices when the BRB&L electrified in the 1920s (becoming in the process America's only narrow-gauge interurban electric railway-- a fascinating story in and of itself). Though broadly similar, subtle details set the two cars apart: note the provision of a second, narrower baggage door in #14. The electric lamp on the end of #14's clerestory is another distinctive EBT touch. The railroad's freight crews were quite fond of using the comfortable combines in lieu of cabooses on ordinary coal trains; the light assisted the crew in making long backing moves down various mine spurs and branches.