H J Adamcik Photo Collection - PCC Cars

(Scroll down for photos)

Philadelphia's first order of PCC Cars arrived from St Louis Car Company in 1938. These cars had a belt driven air compressor for door operation and final braking. They were one-man operated cars and numbered 2001-2020. Three additional "Brilliner" cars, 2021-2023 were added in 1939. An additional order for 1940/41 delivery of 130 air cars was placed with St. Louis Car Company; 2031-2080 were one-man and 2501-2580 were equipped with a center conductor's booth and could be operated either by one-man or with a conductor during peak periods on heavy lines. Because of Philadelphia's major war-time production industries, a 110 car order for 1942 delivery was authorized; 2081-2090 were one-man and 2581-2680 were one/two-man air cars.

Two large orders of 100 and 110 cars were placed with St Louis Car company for standee window equipped post-war all-electric type cars. Two-man cars 2701-2800 were delivered in 1947 and one-man cars 2091-2200 were delivered in 1948. In 1955, PTC obtained 90 second hand cars from Missouri. Fifty cars from the St. Louis Public Service Company 1500 series were numbered 2201-2250 by PTC. Forty cars from the Kansas City Public Service Company 725-799 series were numbered 2251-2290 by PTC. Both of these car series were unique. The St Louis cars were built in 1939/40 with a standard air-car body but with a prototype all-electric control. The 1946 built Kansas City cars, while having standard all-electric car basic framing and controls, did not have the standee windows and instead had an single main window at each seat with a vertical proportion that many considered more attractive than the standard design. Problems due to a less than succesful modification by PTC of St Louis's non-standard control pedal arrangement coupled with the prototype all-electric braking equipment caused the St Louis cars to be withdrawn from service shortly after their arrival.

(Click on the thumbnails to see a larger image)

 PRT 2008 - Wayne and Westview, Aug. 14, 1938  PTC 2001 - 18th and Shunk, Sunday service
 PTC 2001 - Glenwood Ave at Lehigh Ave & 17th St  PTC 2002 - 10th and Luzerne 10-22-41
 PTC 2002 - Oxford Ave  PTC 2003 - Oxford Ave
 PTC 2004 - Fox Chase loop  PTC 2021 - Luzerne barn
 PTC 2031 - 61st and Baltimore loop  PTC 2032 - 60th and Chester
 PTC 2037 - Chelten and Pulaski  PTC 2041 - Crossing Reading RR at Willow Grove
 PTC 2044 - Fox Chase loop 3-1-43  PTC 2050 - Oxford ave at RDG Newtown branch
 PTC 2052 - Tyson Ave at Edge Hill Rd, Ardsley  PTC 2054 - Limekiln Pk at PRW to Glenside
 PTC 2056 and 2050 - Pulaski Ave at Pike St  PTC 2059 - Willow Grove loop 3-7-54
 PTC 2072 - Fox Chase loop  PTC 2073 - 94th and Eastwick
 PTC 2073 - 9th and Main, Darby  PTC 2077 - Bell and Chester Ave, Yeadon
 PTC 2080 - Frankford and Arrott  PTC 2083 - Elmwood Ave at Island Rd
 PTC 2088 - 2nd and Erie loop  PTC 2089 -Rt 53 Frankford and Arrott
 PTC 2090 - Fox Chase loop, 1943  PTC 2091 - 40th and Girard
 PTC 2112 - 63rd and Lansdowne  PTC 2113 - 63rd and Market
 PTC 2126 - 8th and Walnut  PTC 2128 - Luzerne barn
 PTC 2128 - Wayne and Carpenter  PTC 2132 - Richmond barn
 PTC 2137 - 8th and Fairmount, Route 43  PTC 2138 - Art Museum tunnel, Route 43
 PTC 2140 - 63rd and Arch  PTC 2142 - Knorr loop
 PTC 2157 - Hunting Park Ave at 22nd St  PTC 2160 - 15th and Erie
 PTC 2164 - 8th and Girard, 8-2-56  PTC 2168 - 17th and Lehigh
 PTC 2169 - Chelten Ave at Germantown Ave  PTC 2169 - Frankford barn
 PTC 2173 - 12th and Walnut Sts  PTC 2178 - 5th and Wyoming
 PTC 2184 - Penn St at Bridge 8-15-55  PTC 2187 - Olney Terminal
 PTC 2188 - Bridge and Walker Sts, Aug 1, 1954  PTC 2198 - 13th and Erie
 PTC 2211 - B St and Erie Ave  PTC 2222 - 10th and Erie 9-28-55
 PTC 2225 - 23rd and Venango loop  PTC 2235 - 22nd and Erie
 PTC 2245 - 4th and Spring Garden  PTC 2256 - 2nd and Market
 PTC 2261 (ex KC 786) - Penn and Bridge Sts, 6-23-55  PTC 2269 - Mifflin Street at 2nd & 3rd Sts
 PTC 2271 - 5th and Snyder  PTC 2286 - 33rd and Columbia
 PTC 2286 - Frankford Terminal  PTC 2286 - Knorr loop
 PTC 2500 series - Route 36  PTC - 63rd and Lansdowne, Route 41
 PTC 2501 - 61st and Pine loop  PTC 2502 - 61st and Pine
 PTC 2520  PTC 2526 - Carpenter at Wayne
 PTC 2531 - Erie Ave at Old York Rd  PTC 2534 - 2nd and Walnut
 PTC 2536 - 60th and Spruce  PTC 2541 - 61st and Pine
 SEPTA 2547 - Allegheny and Kensington Aves - 10-12-70  PTC 2551 - Yeadon loop
 PTC 2558 - 65th and Woodland  PTC 2562 - Market St Subway Surface detour
 PTC 2575 - Elmwood loop  PTC 2579 - Old York Rd and Pike
 PTC 2582 - Last day to Front-Chestnut  PTC 2584 - 13th and Cuthbert
 PTC 2586 - 13th and Spring Garden  PTC 2589 - 40th and Filbert, looking East
 PTC 2618 - Godfrey loop  PTC 2621 - Darby loop
 PTC 2622 - 5th and Chestnut  PTC 2631 - Darby
 PTC 2634 - South Street bridge  PTC 2646 - 29th and Master Sts
 PTC 2653 - Island Rd 3-31-57  PTC 2657 - Rising Sun and Knorr
 PTC 2665 - 36th and Market Sts at portal  PTC 2670 - 52nd and Lancaster, WB
 PTC 2673 - Parkside loop  PTC 2673 - Rising Sun & Knorr loop
 PTC 2702 - Callowhill barn  PTC 2705 - 48th and Parkside loop
 PTC 2715 - Malvern Ave at loop  PTC 2728 - Germantown Ave and Gravers Lane
 PTC 2739 - Bethlehem Pk loop  PTC 2742 - Germantown Ave below Mermaid loop
 PTC 2743 - Mermaid loop   


Return to home page Up to top of page Back to index page Forward to next page