A sad photo from a May, 1953 Portland "Oregonian" newspaper. This is what the Portland Traction Co. did to reward interurban streetcars 1100 and 1093 (and 4 others) after 43 years of faithful service! These were built in their own shops in 1910 & 1912 and were constructed of wood, therefore easy to burn down and take the steel for scrap. With no burn permits or pollution concerns in those days, they took them out to a siding in an unpopulated section of track and torched them. I actually witnessed this event, on May 23, 1953 as a young teen-ager. I was riding by it in a newer streetcar and asked the operator to stop (unscheduled) and let me off. He obliged and the tears in my eyes were not just from the heat! They were 2 of my favorite cars :( To see another fire contender click next.