Trolley Car Apparatus at Duluth

Trolley Car Apparatus at Duluth

Since 1907 the Duluth, Minn., fire department has possessed a motor fire trolley car. At that time when the sandy streets of the point made the rapid handling of apparatus difficult and the city demanded some apparatus or appliance for that section, this unique combination was th result. The car did service as a street car until, antiquated for that purpose, it was purchased by the city for $650. It is kept in a building owned by the city near the traction company’s barn, and the city pays the traction company $30 a month for power, the use of the tracks and a man to run the car to fires. This unit of equipment of the department has been doing its work so quietly and efficiently under Captain W. W. Forsythe, who is the entire "crew,” except a ntotorman, that many have forgotten its very existence. Because of inability to turn the car around two boxes were constructed in each end for the carrying of hose and half of its 1,600 feet erf hose is placed in each box in such a way that an end can be drawn out,attached to a hydrant and the car made to string the line along the street to the fire in the same way and with as much dispatch as a real hose wagon would do the work. Above and below, tucked away in a clever utilization of all the space on the car. are packed ladders, chemical extinguishers, axes, lanterns and numerous other bits of apparatus that prepare this car for almost any emergency. It carries a 20-foot and a 28-fbot scaling ladder and a roof ladder, all made fast to the car in such a manner that they are always secure and never in the way. Five years ago Captain Forsythe, then a fireman of several years’ experience, was placed in charge of the car and since then he has been captain and “crew” at nearly every alarm. He lives near the station and is constantly on duty, day and night. The lone fireman makes the run to the fire by himself and then, if more help is necessary, he calls upon civilians for assistance. The Park point residents recognize his authority to press them into service at any time through their appreciation of having a fire station and the car all their own. In cases of big fires. Captain Forsythe sends one of his amateur firefighters to telephone to No. 3 Truck station for assistance. If Forsythe has been able to spare his car he sends it to meet reinforcements. In cases when he cannot spare his car at the fire, another street car is secured to meet the reinforcements. Captain Forsythe has had but few tires when he needed help. The fires on the point have been small.

Since 1907 the Duluth, Minn., fire department has possessed a motor fire trolley car. At that time when the sandy streets of the point made the rapid handling of apparatus difficult and the city demanded some apparatus or appliance for that section, this unique combination was th result. The car did service as a street car until, antiquated for that purpose, it was purchased by the city for $650. It is kept in a building owned by the city near the traction company’s barn, and the city pays the traction company $30 a month for power, the use of the tracks and a man to run the car to fires. This unit of equipment of the department has been doing its work so quietly and efficiently under Captain W. W. Forsythe, who is the entire "crew,” except a ntotorman, that many have forgotten its very existence. Because of inability to turn the car around two boxes were constructed in each end for the carrying of hose and half of its 1,600 feet erf hose is placed in each box in such a way that an end can be drawn out,attached to a hydrant and the car made to string the line along the street to the fire in the same way and with as much dispatch as a real hose wagon would do the work. Above and below, tucked away in a clever utilization of all the space on the car. are packed ladders, chemical extinguishers, axes, lanterns and numerous other bits of apparatus that prepare this car for almost any emergency. It carries a 20-foot and a 28-fbot scaling ladder and a roof ladder, all made fast to the car in such a manner that they are always secure and never in the way. Five years ago Captain Forsythe, then a fireman of several years’ experience, was placed in charge of the car and since then he has been captain and “crew” at nearly every alarm. He lives near the station and is constantly on duty, day and night. The lone fireman makes the run to the fire by himself and then, if more help is necessary, he calls upon civilians for assistance. The Park point residents recognize his authority to press them into service at any time through their appreciation of having a fire station and the car all their own. In cases of big fires. Captain Forsythe sends one of his amateur firefighters to telephone to No. 3 Truck station for assistance. If Forsythe has been able to spare his car he sends it to meet reinforcements. In cases when he cannot spare his car at the fire, another street car is secured to meet the reinforcements. Captain Forsythe has had but few tires when he needed help. The fires on the point have been small.