This little known piece of equipment came to my attention thanks to Ted Benson.  While digging through a collection of TS corporate records in his archives, Mr. Benson found some TS AFEs (Authority For Expenditure reports) concerning the "Strout Experimental Car No. 400".  Mr. Benson reports that this ill-fated vehicle was nicknamed the "Comedy Car".

According to the background provided in an AFE dated March 30, 1927, TS 400 was "built by former management before Western Pacific acquired control of Tidewater Southern.  It was constructed purely as an experiment, could not at anytime be operated because of incorrect mechanical principals and, had it been capable of operation, such operation would have been hazardous in the extreme.  It has been impossible to dispose of the car.  Cost of dismantling the car is in excess of the salvage to be recovered."

Not exactly a encouraging assessment.

It is speculated that TS 400 was built for operation on what is now the Modesto and Empire Traction during the brief period when the T&S controlled the road's predecessor.  To secure terminal trackage within Modesto, the original Tidewater & Southern proposed on April 18, 1911 to lease and operate the Modesto Interurban Railroad, then in the process of being built. To provide service, the T&S reportedly brought in a gas car leased from the Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad to run on the MI line.  (It was literally a car, described as an automobile with flanged wheels.  Kyle Wyatt reports that according to Keilty's "Short Line Doodlebug", the ST&E had a 7 passenger Mitchell auto converted as a track auto in 1909.  This is likely what the T&S used.)  It arrived on April 30 and was used for only a matter of months. With the T&S being intent on building its own line, the MI was allowed to begin falling apart. On October 17, 1911, the lease was terminated.

It is possible that the T&S management tried to find an alternative to the leased ST&E car, leading to the construction of the 400.

What "Strout" refers to is unknown.  The AFE was granted and the car appearently destroyed.  Its value can further be seen in two additional entries on the relevant AFEs:

"DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:

"Retire and demolish and destroy Strout Experimental Car NO. 400 now on tracks Traction Barn."  (probably referring to the CCT barn in Stockton -ejv)

REASONS AND NECESSITY...:

"This experimental car built by former management and is impractical, useless and valueless."

The costs charged to operating expenses for the demolition was $9551.67.

A photo of the Comedy Car reportedly appeared in an old Western Railroader.  Needless to say, any photos of it would be greatly appreciated.

Tidewater Southern Railway

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Gas-Mechanical Car 400

Tidewater Southern Railway