On a mild Saturday morning 41 years ago, a sleek blue and green streetcar rumbled along the roads of Catonsville on the way to what would be its final run. What could have been the most solemn occasion of the very last streetcar to operate anywhere on the Baltimore Transit Company system was, in fact, very much the opposite!
As my wife, Alberta, and I and a neighbor couple boarded the car at the Irvington car barn, we were greeted by a five-piece Dixieland band complete with straw hats, bow ties, and peppermint striped shirts – the works. Also on board, besides several dozen passengers, were ice chests (coolers in today’s lingo); many, many ice chests full of adult liquid refreshment.
As the band began a sing-along to the Air Force’s “Off We Go”, the last #8 car eased out onto westbound Frederick Avenue, continuing through Yale Heights, Paradise, and Catonsville, up to what is now the Trolley Path and then down to the loop and the Junction.
After a brief but refreshing pause, we headed back up the hill to retrace the entire route and head back into Baltimore City. That journey took us up Greenmount Avenue through Waverly, Govans and finally Towson. It was there we made another greatly appreciated pit stop. The band kicked in with “When The Saints Go Marching In” as we disembarked in full voice and paraded in through one door to Bernie Lee’s Bar in the old Penn Hotel. After making good use of the facilities and still in music and song, we exited through the other door and rejoined our trolley with two or three extra passengers.
Then it was back south, rocking and rolling downtown, sometimes making the entire streetcar sway back and forth with our jocularity. Yes, the spectacle did evoke laughs and waves from amused pedestrians, and toots from car horns passing by before we dismounted back in Irvington. If the BTC wanted a grand finale to the end of an era, we had certainly contributed our part.
The date of that last ride was November 21, 1963. The streetcar was #7404, and the motorman was Jim Engleman – a most tolerant and gracious gentleman.
By: John Didier
John is a dedicated member of the newsletter committee and obviously knows how to have a good time. We are delighted to have this memory of his and would love to have other reminisces from our neighbors for our “Yesterdays…” column. Please write it out and drop it by Cathy Sidlowski’s at 1301 Summit Ave., or email mail to her at maceland@worldnet.att.net.