The Electric Pullman: A History of the Niles Car & Manufacturing Company

Preface

ix High Voltage. Pullman. Two words that imply high energy, quality, excitement . While not widely adopted in the traction industry, the Niles Car & Manufacturing Company participated in building high-voltage cars for electric railways in several states. Although the electrical specification for the cars was developed by others, the cars completed in 1907 for the Washington Baltimore&AnnapolisElectricRailwaycametobecalled“ElectricPullmans” due to their heavy weight and quiet, comfortable operation. The designation stuck and was ever after associated with Niles cars. A latecomer to the party that was the interurban era was the Niles Car & Manufacturing Company, of Niles, Ohio, a car builder that didn’t build its first trolley car until 1902 and was gone by 1917, a mere fifteen years of activity . Although its life was short, the Niles company left an indelible mark on the industry it served. Even nearly one hundred years after the firm’s demise, Niles cars are still regarded as some of the finest products of the car builder’s art and expertise and many survive in trolley museums around the country. Historicalresearchislikeanarcheologicalexcavation,aprocessthatseems tohavenoend.Itmayreachastoppingpointbutthatmaynotbetheendofthe story. There comes a time, however, when diminishing returns do not justify the expenditure of additional effort. Such is the case with this account of the lifeoftheNilesCar&ManufacturingCompany.Whilemanyyearsandcountless hours have gone into this work, there is more to be told, if only the history Preface Preface x can be recovered from wherever it is hidden. It is hoped that future historians may use this account as a basis for further digging. This volume is intended to be a history of the company, and to that end will only report on cars as delivered to the original buyer, although it is known that many of the cars ran on successive traction lines. Hopefully this story will aid the reader in learning about the history of this firm and the scope of its influence on the industry it served. While the Niles Car & Manufacturing Company is long gone, it was a valued member of the community, creating jobs and excitement wherever the Niles name appeared, either in the factory in Niles, Ohio, or on the many traction lines that operated its cars. Lawrence A. Brough ...