FCMR Equipment Roster

The Denver and Interurban (D&I) Railroad built the original street railway in 1907 and operated double-truck streetcars from December 1907 through July 1918. Car 106 is shown with crew at right. For more about the D&I years, see our Early FCMR History page.

After the City acquired the railway, it replaced the original cars with four new, single-truck Birney Safety cars. Along with additional used cars purchased in the 1930's and 1940's, the Birneys lasted until June 1951. Most Fort Collins Birneys still exist, scattered around the USA. Some are in museums while others are in various states of restoration. Here is a brief update on each Birney:

The Birneys

Car 20 was built in 1919 by American Car Co. It was sold in 1951 and moved to the Pioneer Village in Minden, NE. On static display there ever since. At left you see car 20 Southbound on College Ave. in in 1949.

Car 21 was built in 1919 by American Car Co., retired in 1951 and on display outside the Fort Collins Museum from 1953 through 1977. The FCMRS restored car 21 from 1978 through 1985. It is now operated by the FCMRS on spring and summer weekends. At left you see car 21 in current service on Roosevelt St.

Car 22 was built in 1919 by American Car Co. and retired in 1951. Car 22 was featured in a three-part series on streetcars in Railroad Model Craftsman magazine in the September, October and November 1983 issues. The November issue included many detail photos of Car 22 at the Colorado Railroad Museum, where it reposed from 1953-1996. It is now being restored by the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation. At left, you see car 22 entering City Park in the 194x just south of where the restored line now ends at our depot.

Car 23 was built in 1919 by American Car Co., retired 1951, and rusted away in a vacant lot until scrapped in 1957. This is the only known photo of Car 23.

First Car 24 was scrapped shortly after being purchased used from the Cincinnati Car Co. Second Car 24 (Brill) was purchased from Richmond, VA in 1946, but seldom operated. Parts kept second Car 25 operating.

First Car 25 was built by American Car Co. for Cheyenne, WY in 1922. Fort Collins purchased it in 1924 but scrapped it prior to 1951. Second Car 25 (Brill) was purchased from Richmond, VA in 1946 and sold to James Stitzel in 1953. Second car 25 resided next to the former Midland Terminal depot in Victor, CO until sold to a South Carolina party about 1990, where it was cosmetically restored as Charleston, SC car 407. Second car 25 was sold to the Charlotte Trolley, Inc. in 1998. Plans were to restore it to operation as original Richmond Car 1520.

We purchased Car 25 in 2007 and are restoring it for operation. At left you see second car 25 awaiting service outside the Howes St. carbarn in 1949. For more about restoring Car 25, see the Car 25 Shop Journal in our latest newsletters.

First car 26 was built by American Car Co. for Cheyenne, WY. Fort Collins purchased it in 1924. Second Car 26 (Brill) was purchased from Richmond, VA in 1946. Sold to the Midwest Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 1953. Second car 26 participated in a transit history parade in Detroit before being donated to the Henry Ford Museum. Now on static display in Greenfield Village. At left you see car 26 on Whedbee at Olive St. on the last day of operation in June 1951. For more about car 26's adventure in Detroit in 1953, read an article from the Midwest Chapter's newsletter.

For photos of other restored and operating single-truck Birneys, use the Streetcar Links above.

Maintenance equipment

We use two motorcars and some pushcars to help us maintain the line. MW01 is a 1949 Fairmont A3 gang-car, purchased from the Great Western Railway in 1984. We have recently upgraded it to Fairmont A4 mechanical condition.

MW02 is a Fairmont A4E gang-car built in 1981 for the Canadian National RR. We purchased it from a Canadian dealer in 2002 to operate a mechanical flangeway cleaner that we designed. The car was upgraded to two-axle drive to cope with our in-the-grass median.