Checks can be sent to:  R. Donald Ross, 3821 Crater Lake Ct, Irving, TX 75062-4015

Everyone thinks of the bridge units when Key System is mentioned, but before they came, there were other cars which were interesting and somewhat unusual interurban cars. Here are a number of views of these cars with the history of each.

21 was built by Carter Brothers Car Co in 1895 as California Ry 21, coach trailer.  It became Oakland Traction 21 in 1899 and San Francisco Oakland & San Jose in 1903.  It became San Francisco -Oakland Terminal 21 and rebuilt as 1201, line car in 1913.  It became Key in 1915 and retired in 1958.  It was acquired by Western Railway Museum  in 1958.

501 was built by St. Louis Car in 1903 as part of the first order. Some of the cars were motors and some were trailers, but the records are unclear which were either. Eventually they all became two-motor cars. Minor changes were made to the car until it was retired on November 18, 1937.

548, built at Emeryville in 1908 as a trailer. It was motorized in 1933 after the Key Pier fire due to a shortage of motor cars. It was retired March 29, 1938.

580 was built by St. Louis Car Co. in 1912. It was retired on February 14, 1938.

658 was built by American Car Co. in 1917. It was retired in approximately 1937.

664 was built at Emeryville from American Car parts in 1923. It was felt that the deck roof was too flimsy and this car and 663 were rebuilt with rounded roofs in 1925. This was never repeated. It was retired in approximately 1937.

678 was built at Emeryville from American Car Co. parts in 1925. It was retired in approximately 1937.

683 was built at Emeryville from American Car Co. parts in 1925. It was retired in approximately 1937.

687, built at Emeryville from American Car Co. parts in 1925. It was retired and scrapped in 1939.

688, built at Emeryville from American Car Co. parts in 1925. It was retired and scrapped in 1939.

When the Sacramento Northern abandoned passenger service in 1941, Key System picked up five of their cars. Here are a few of them.

495 was built by Holman Car Co. in 1912 as Oakland Antioch & Eastern Ry 1005. In 1920 it became San Francisco-Sacramento RR 1005, and in 1923 it became Sacramento Northern RR 1005. Key System renumbered the car as 495 when it was purchased from Hyman-Michaels Co., a scrap dealer, in March, 1942. It had been retired when the SN abandoned passenger service in July, 1941. 495 has been preserved by the Bay Area Electric Railway Association as Sacramento Northern 1005 since they acquired it in 1951.

497 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in 1912 as OA&E Ry 1010. In 1920 it became SF-S 1010, and in 1923 it became SN 1010. It was purchased with the others in March 1942 and was scrapped in 1951.

499 was built by Hall-Scott Motor Car Co. in 1913 as OA&E Ry 1026,  It was a trailer and rebuilt as a motor car and renumbered 1018 in 1916. In 1920 it became SF-S 1018, and in 1923 it became SN 1018. Key acquired it in March 1942 as 499. It was scrapped in 1951.

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AMDG

2/10/2021

Memorial of Blessed Alexander of Lugo

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