History of Streetcar 356

Car 356 is one of a unique group of four cars, 356 to 362, built in the Fort Rouge Shops of the WERC, on Osborne 'Standard 10 window Winnipeg Cars'. They were unique in the construction that incorporated narrow front vestibules, similar in design to the earlier '9 window cars'.

In October 1909, car 356, was released from Osborne Street Fort Rouge car Shop in the standard car configuration of that time - two man operation with enclosed front vestibules for the motorman (no public access); no doors on the rear vestibules; bulkheads enclosed the car body at both ends for weather protection; passengers boarded and exited at rear while the conductor roamed the interior of the car collecting fares with a handheld fare box.

The car body was sheathed with narrow matched strips of cherry wood filled with oil, rubbed down and varnished in its neutral colour. Above the belt rail, located below the windows, the exterior woodwork was painted cream with the window sashes finished in a natural finish.

Between 1914 and 1915, car 356 was rebuilt into a 'pay as you enter' (PAYE) car with the installation of doors and conductor's station on the rear vestibule. The conductor stayed at his station manning a permanent farebox mounted in the rear vestibule.

On January 24th, 1920, after rebuilding into a 'low floor car' Car 356 was released for service. The configuration was achieved through the installation of smaller GE 258 motors in place of the original GE 80's. The wheels were changed from "33 dia to wheels with a 26" dia. The wheel and motor changes necessitated a modification of the doors to incorporate a folding step mechanism. A front exit for passengers was installed; the bulkheads were changed from the original Sleeman type to a HB Lifeguard type. As cherry wood was no longer available for required repairs modifications were made utilizing basswood. The car body colour was changed to a dark tuscan red, as were the window sashes.

Car 356 was released for service once more in June 1926 following further modifications for conversion into a 1 and 2 man car. The front entrance door was equipped with a pneumatic door engine mechanism was incorporated at the rear exit door. The rebuild also included the installation of full safety equipment, including a 'deadman' control and interlock mechanism.

Following further rebuilding in June of 1929, Car 356 was again released for service. Included in this rebuild was the removal of the manually operated rear entrance door which was replaced with a window panel thus allowing increased seating in the former rear vestibule. Car 356 under this rebuilding had a new route number sign installed on the front vestibule roof and new illuminated route signs within the car body.

In 1932 Car 356 was repainted in the new company colours of orange and cream. Between 1933 and 1955 Car 356 sustained a variety of minor damage resulting from being involved in collisions. This resulted in a variety of repairs varying from body damage to simple repainting.

In October 1955, Car 356 was scrapped. All metal components such as truss rods, trucks, motors, controllers, and other attachments were removed. The body of the car was sold to a private individual for $100 and was relocated to Springfield Road at Panet.

Between the years of 1980 and 1989, the car passed through a variety of circumstances. In 1980, the car body was purchased by the Old Market Square Association. The initial proposal was to restore the car and place it on display in the park at Old Market Square. This was not feasible. After due consideration of the status of Car 356, the Old Market Square Association contacted a variety of organizations to take ownership of the car for restoration. These organizations included Midwestern Rail Association and Heritage Winnipeg. as Midwestern Rail Association lacked any facilities at that time to undertake such a project, Heritage Winnipeg undertook responsibility for the car.

Because of the threat to the car from vandalism Heritage Winnipeg negotiated a temporary housing of the car in the old Winnipeg Hydro's Mill street Substation for storage only. In 1989, the car was relocated, at Heritage Winnipeg's expense, to a storage location in the Fort Rouge Garage of Winnipeg Transit. Here again access to the car for preservation and restoration was not permitted, changing requirements of Winnipeg Transit the car had once more to be transported and stored at another site.

On June 13, 1996, following an agreement with Midwestern Rail Association to agreement with Midwestern Rail Association to permit restoration on Track 1 of the Via Rail Canada Union Depot, within the Association's Winnipeg Railway Museum, Car 356 was placed on temporary freight car trucks to allow the initial process of restoration/preservation of the car pending acquisitions of running gear and truss support materials.