In 1886, The Pittsfield Street Railway opened with a horse railroad. Five years later the line was electrified and became The Pittsfield Electric Street Railway. In 1901, an upstart was created as the Berkshire Street Railway. It's intention was to create a line from Adams, Cheshire, Lanesboro, Pittsfield, Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, Sheffield and the Connecticut State Line. In 1906, the Hoosick and Bennington operations fell into financial trouble and they were acquired by the Berkshire Street Railway Co.
Berkshire Street Railway #9 At The State Line House. All in a days work traveling from New York to Vermont to Massachusetts. This car was built by Jackson & Sharp in 1893
Berkshire Street Railway #24 crossing the Housatonic at Monument Falls
Berkshire Street Railway #58 at Renfrew (Adams, Mass)
Berkshire Street Railway Open-Car #11 on Main Street In Bennington
Berkshire Street Railway #1 the "Bennington"
Another shot of Berkshire Street Railway #1 the "Bennington"
An accident In February of 1910 on the Pittsfield Electric's Hinsdale Line forced the system into financial trouble and then into the Berkshire Street Railway. A runaway car hit an abutment of the Boston and Albany Railroad near Dalton, Mass. and killed one passenger and injured scores more.
Berkshire Street Railway #6 and Line Car
Berkshire Street Railway #80 on Park Street in Adams, Mass. Car built by Jones in 1902
Berkshire Street Railway "Berkshire Hills" Parlor Car between Bennington and North Adams. This car was built in Springfield by Wason in 1903. The car cost $20,000 and for a brief time it was the private car of The Berkshire Street Railway's creator, Ralph D. Gillett. About 1910 this car was put into service for a scenic trip between Great Barrington and Bennington. After 1915, this car was taken out of service and it sat in storage until the line was abandoned. It was then purchased for $300 and converted into a diner in Pittsfield. Although heavily modified and the victim of a fire, the remaining shell of this car is part of the Seashore Trolley Museum's Collection and hopes to be restored.
Here's a model of the Berkshire Hills and a chance to see what her color scheme was. This car was created by trolley-fan, Kinsley Goodrich of Dalton, Mass. Kinsley used to ride the Berskshire Line from Pittsfield to Dalton and Pittsfield to Lanesboro, Mass. when he was a young child. (PHOTO: Kinsley Goodrich)