Columbus Streetcar Roster
Four Wheel Streetcars - 1891-1895
Early streetcar records are not totally complete. It appears that when Columbus Consolidated Street Railway Co. started conversion to electric streetcars in early 1891 they electrified some of the better horsecars as well as purchased new streetcars. They also used old horsecars as trailers. They must have concluded that if two horses could pull a horsecar one streetcar equipped with two 50 HP motors could easily pull a second car. Cars No. 193-209 may have been the first cars purchased new as electric streetcars. They are also the lowest numbered electric streetcar for which there is a photo.
In 1891 a fire at the Chittenden Avenue car house destroyed 25 horsecars. That may account for the missing numbers below number 192. The following cars got Columbus started with electrification. The service was popular enough that in four short years the company moved to double truck streetcars and purchased no more four wheel cars.
Minerva - Single truck closed car built by Brownell Car Co. in 1897. It seated 18 in wicker seats.
21-26 - Single truck open cars built by J.G. Brill Co. in 1891. They seated 40 on cross seats. These six cars may have been originially Glenwood & Greenlawn cars
101-116, 118-119 - Single truck closed cars built by Brownell Car Co. in service 1899. They seated 24 or 28
120-121 - Single truck closed trailers built by Stephenson Car Co. date unknown. Converted horse cars
127-128 - Single truck closed trailers built by Stephenson Car Co., in service 1891. Converted horse car
133-135,137, 141 - Single truck closed trailers built by Stephenson Car Co., in service 1891, 1899, unknown.
143-145, 148 - Single truck closed trailers built by Stephenson Car Co., in service 1891, unknown.
170,172 - Single truck closed trailers built by Stephenson Car Co., in service 1891, unknown.
175, 177, 181-182, 185-186 - Single truck closed trailers & combination cars built by Brownell Car Co., in service 1899.
193-209 - Single truck open cars built by J.G. Brill Co., built 1891. They seated 40
213-222 - Single truck open trailers built by Brownell Car Co., in service 1899. They seated 40
227-232 - Single truck open cars built by J.G. Brill Co., built 1892. They seated 40
233-252 - Single truck closed cars built by Brownell Car Co., built 1893. They seated 28
253-273 - Double truck cars that will be included in the Growth Roster.
274-282 - 32 seat single truck open cars built by J.G. Brill Co., in service 1895.