Tolley Coaches and PCC Street Cars Provide Successful City Transportation

The importance of adequate city transportation is recognized. Successful handling of the rapidly increasing travel during the war as well as the subsequent high level of traffic that has been maintained proved difficult. Trolley coaches and Presidents' Conference Committee street cars were introduced in 1928 and 1936, respectively, and the total now exceeds 10,000. They established a high degree of availability and usefulness in meeting war demands and have a definite economic field of application for city transit ranging from 500 to 12,000 maximum passengers per hour in one direction. They use city streets efficiently and reduce traffic congestion. Operation is quiet, a feature which adds greatly to the comfort of the ride. The trolley coach has ample power for rapid accelerating at 3.5 miles per hour per second; it will run above 40 miles per hour, and normal stopping ability equals 3.5 miles per hour per second. The control provides quick, smooth starting and stopping. These performance details combine to produce schedule speeds of 12 to 15 miles per hour. Motor capacity of the PCC street car is liberal so as readily to permit 3.5 miles per hour per second starts. Car speeds exceed 40 miles per hour and service dynamic braking is at 3.15 miles per hour per second. The latter is supplemented by drum and track brakes. The 99-step control provides smooth starts and stops. These features combine to produce schedule speeds 25 per cent, or more, beyond those of old street cars.