PRT had three groups of four-wheel Birney "Safety Cars". Cars 1000-1024 were ordered new in 1919 to re-equip the rural Delaware County lines that PRT aquired primarily in 1906 from the Media, Middletown, Aston and Chester Electric Railway. Ten additional cars, 1025-1034 were built in 1920 and purchased second hand by PRT in 1921 from the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Railway. They provided additional spares in Delaware County and for various short, light shuttle routes in West Philadelphia.
Birneys 1-5 were delivered in 1922 and owned by the City of Philadelphia. They were to provide service on the Route 59 Bustleton Surface Line constructed by the City as an adjunct to the Frankford Elevated. It was soon apparent that higher capacity was needed on this line and larger 5200 series cars were substituted by PRT with the City Birneys used on the West Philadelphia shuttles.
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