September 25th saw the arrival of seven of the cars ordered from Ottawa. The arrival of the new trams on railway flatcars became a public event , and was duly reported by the Daily Telegraph.
"These cars have excited the admiration of all who have seen them.
They are about 24 feet in length and are provided with a vestibule at each end
so that the driver and conductor will be completely protected from the weather.
The interior finish of the car is of mahogany upholstered in English Wilton,
with beveled plate glass windows, birds eye veneered ceiling, polished brass
trimmings and automatic Pullman car curtains. Each car has a coal stove of the
new Gurney style which rests upon the seat in the centre of one side of the
cars. The register of fares is operated not by means of a cord as in the old
cars but by means of an iron rod to which short levers are attached. Each car
is provided with a clock, and the whole aspect of them is most cheerful and
comfortable. The new cars will not require to be turned so that neither
Y's nor turntables will be necessary, for the motorman can operate them
from either end, both ends being alike. This arrangement will save much time
and be a great convenience in every way. The new cars will be provided with
lifesaving fenders. They rest upon solid iron trucks and have powerful springs,
and running on a perfect roadbed they will be entirely free from the jolting
and jarring which have made the other cars so uncomfortable. It may be said of
these cars that they are equal in appearance and equipment to any cars on any
street railway in the United States or Canada. They are handsomely lettered,
and the circuit to which they belong is shown by lettered boards on the sides
and in front."
The cars were numbered 30 to 40 , and carried a new paint scheme of maroon and cream with a yellow trim. This paint scheme lasted until the New Brunswick Power Company introduced an all red scheme in 1917. In an effort to maintain the rich interior of the new cars, signs were installed reading: "Please remove your raincoat and leave the seat dry for the next passenger." Service resumed in the fall as work was completed by October 18th. Eleven and one half miles of street railway was being operated by the end of 1894.
All pages © Heritage Resources and New
Brunswick Community College - Saint John.