Columbus Delaware & Marion Railway
Glenna
October 1906
In October, 1906 the Central Electric Railway Association held their convention in Columbus. Business meetings were held at the Ohio State Fair grounds where this photo of the Glenna was taken with the convention venue in the background.
The Columbus Delaware & Marion Railway’s brand new deluxe interurban car the Glenna and a sister car Mary were built by the Niles Car Co. in 1906. The Glenna gleams in the sun light aided by the multiple coats of paint followed by multiple coats of varnish. The car is lettered for Limited Service between Columbus, Delaware, Marion and Bucyrus.
Glenna doesn’t appear to have its electrical gear, including its motors, installed at the time of this photo. The radial coupler is chained in the center position so it wouldn’t swing to the side. This allowed the car to be handled by a steam railroad train.
The CD&M’s line between Marion and Bucyrus was not completed until 1908. It appears the plan was to provided limited service from Columbus to Bucyrus. In 1907 there was a stock market panic and recession. This may have been the reason the CD&M sold or never took delivery of either cars. They may never have even operated on the CD&M.
The two cars were acquired by the 400-mile Illinois Traction System. The ITS removed the names and numbered the cars 270 and 271. Early in the 1920s the cars were steel-sheathed, received a turtleback roof, new trucks and green paint. In 1926-27 they were further remodeled with new seats and orange paint. In 1929-30 the IT scrapped their oldest cars. That may have been the fate of 270 and 271, alias Glenna and Mary.
To view the 1906 Street Railway Journal issue devoted to the 1906 convention click here. The index is on page 11.