Page:Shore Line Electric Railway Predecessor Companies 1961.pdf/20

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Golden spur Park

ONE of the favorite summer resorts on the line was the Golden spur Park. an amuse- ment area located near the Golden spur inn on the batik of the Niantic River. Many different at- tractions. including diving horses. were presented here in season, and sacred concerts were given on Sunday afternoons in the summer by bands and orchestras. Dances were held on Tuesday and satur- day nights in the large pavilion overlooking the river, and there were also facilities for boating and picknicking.

Crescent Beach Extension

ALTHOUGH the New London & East Lyme street Railway company had charter rights to extend from Niantic to Crescent Beach. it was not until 1912 that construction or the trackage was undertaken. The extensinn hegan at Niantic station and ran through Main street and Black Point Road. to a point near the crescent Beach station of the New York, New Haven St & Hartford Railroad and was opened to traffic on July 22.

This extension, approximately one mile in length. crossed at grade the spur track or the rail- road to the Connecticut National Guard encampment grounds at Niantic. subsequently. a physical connection with the New Haven Railroad was estalilished at this crossing Trolley wire was erected over the spur and its sidings to the Niantic Lumber Company and the Thames Bleachery, and these two concerns provided much carload and lot freight for the shore Line Electric Railway in later years.

Old Lyme Extension

SHORTLY after the shore Line Electric Railway began construction of its Guilford Ivoryton line. the New London St East Lyme street Railway com— pany was authorized to build from Flanders Corner to the village of old Lyme and thence across the Lieutenant River to the then-pro- posed Connecticut River bridge. The right was extended tor two years in 1911 but it was not until early 1913 that construction began. As earlier stated. rails had been laid across the bridge when it was built and the Shore Line had exe- tended a branch along Ferry Road. Old Saybrook. to the west and of the span.

The New London at East Lyme completed the Flnndersr-Sonnecti- cut. River extension in mid-August, and on August 26, l9l3, service began between New London and Old Saybrook No. 9. a 14-vench open of the New London or East Lyme, was the first official car over the line and gave tree rides the first afternoon.

(The very first car was an old single trucker, No. 13., of the for- mer New London street Railway. Its crew was Motorman William Dunbar and conductor George Wilcox, who trimmed overhanging tree branches and cleared the line for the first official trip)

The new trackage, incidentally. was reportedly constructed with 80—lb. "T" rail and the overhead was of the direct suspension type, insulated tor 1,200 volts. with completion of the Flanders Comer-Connecticut River route, the New London & East Lyme

EARLY WINTER service by open car on the New London 5 East Lyme Street Railway is shown in December photo at Smith Cove trestle, Waterford. Note the overcoats. Closed cars were not delivered until January 1906, while the line opened to revenue traffic in November of 1905—collection at Charles F Munger.