Wason Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
The Wason Manufacturing Company was a maker of railway passenger coaches and streetcars during the 19th and early 20th century. The company was founded in 1845 in Springfield, Massachusetts
by Charles Wason (b. 1816) and Thomas Wason (b. 1811).
Wason clients included the Michigan Southern Railroad (1846–1855), Alton Railroad
, Central Railroad of New Jersey
, Boston and Maine Railroad
. By 1867 the company had about 300 employees. The company made the first passenger coaches used on the Transcontinental railroad
. One of these became the personal rail car of Leland Stanford
, President of the Central Pacific Railroad
.
Around 1900 Wason concentrated on manufacturing streetcars and electrified railway cars. Clients included the Manhattan Railway Company. The company became a subsidiary
of J. G. Brill and Company in 1906. It continued to manufacture both streetcars and conventional railroad cars until 1932, when the Great Depression
forced Brill to close the plant.
One of the only surviving examples of a Wason coach can be found at the California State Railroad Museum
's Railtown facility in Jamestown, California
, located in the Sierra foothills. Wason streetcars on display at museums include an 1896 model at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
(Mass.) and a 1901 model at the Connecticut Trolley Museum
.
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
by Charles Wason (b. 1816) and Thomas Wason (b. 1811).
Wason clients included the Michigan Southern Railroad (1846–1855), Alton Railroad
Alton Railroad
The Alton Railroad was the final name of a railroad linking Chicago to Alton, Illinois, St. Louis, Missouri, and Kansas City, Missouri. Its predecessor, the Chicago and Alton Railroad , was purchased by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1931 and was controlled until 1942 when the Alton was...
, Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
, Boston and Maine Railroad
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
. By 1867 the company had about 300 employees. The company made the first passenger coaches used on the Transcontinental railroad
Transcontinental railroad
A transcontinental railroad is a contiguous network of railroad trackage that crosses a continental land mass with terminals at different oceans or continental borders. Such networks can be via the tracks of either a single railroad, or over those owned or controlled by multiple railway companies...
. One of these became the personal rail car of Leland Stanford
Leland Stanford
Amasa Leland Stanford was an American tycoon, industrialist, robber baron, politician and founder of Stanford University.-Early years:...
, President of the Central Pacific Railroad
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
.
Around 1900 Wason concentrated on manufacturing streetcars and electrified railway cars. Clients included the Manhattan Railway Company. The company became a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of J. G. Brill and Company in 1906. It continued to manufacture both streetcars and conventional railroad cars until 1932, when the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
forced Brill to close the plant.
One of the only surviving examples of a Wason coach can be found at the California State Railroad Museum
California State Railroad Museum
The California State Railroad Museum is a museum in the state park system of California, USA, interpreting the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. It is located in Old Sacramento at 111 I Street....
's Railtown facility in Jamestown, California
Jamestown, California
Jamestown is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 3,433 at the 2010 census, up from 3,017 at the 2000 census.A scene from the movie Hidalgo was filmed in Jamestown...
, located in the Sierra foothills. Wason streetcars on display at museums include an 1896 model at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum is a small railroad museum in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, United States.The museum is dedicated to preserving and operating car number 10 of the former Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway...
(Mass.) and a 1901 model at the Connecticut Trolley Museum
Connecticut Trolley Museum
Founded in 1940, the Connecticut Trolley Museum is the oldest incorporated museum dedicated to electric railroading in the United States.The museum is located in East Windsor, Connecticut, and is open to the public most of the year, featuring static displays and self-guided tours of the state's...
.