Osgood Bradley Car Company

The Osgood Bradley Car Company facility in Worcester was a manufacturing plant that produced passenger cars, streetcars, and freight vehicles at its Massachusetts industrial site. The operation became known for developing lighter railway cars using Cor-Ten steel, which significantly reduced vehicle weight compared to standard steel construction.

Founded in 1822 for stagecoach production, the company transitioned to railway passenger cars in 1835, becoming one of the early pioneers in American passenger car manufacturing. During the Civil War, it also produced gun carriages for the Union Army while continuing its standard transportation vehicle output.

The company became known for creating the American Flyer, a streamlined passenger car from the 1930s that set new standards for how trains looked and operated across the northeast. This design showed how local manufacturing could shape the way people traveled by rail.

The plant was located in Worcester, Massachusetts, with convenient access to local rail infrastructure that made delivery and shipment of finished vehicles straightforward. The facility was designed primarily as a production and assembly complex, without dedicated public viewing areas or visitor accommodations built into its layout.

The company managed to double its factory output during the Civil War while producing both military equipment and railway cars simultaneously. This dual production made the plant an unusual case of American industry adapting to wartime demands without abandoning its core business.

GPS coordinates: 42.32168,-71.79763

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:44