BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS POST)

MU (streetcar) operation in Boston.......

Interestingly, the 6300-6400 series center entrance cars were the only such cars not equipped for MU operation in the subways.

The PULLMAN-built "wartime" PCCs, interestingly enough, were delivered without MU equipment; however, in 1959, after the opening of the new Riverside line, all cars in this class were rebuilt for MU operations.......

"NYO"

["MTA:]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also, as I had noted elsewhere, PSNJ's deck roof "3500" series were the only cars rostered that had MU capabilities; prior to 1930, all of the "3500s" were shorn of their MU hardware........

"NYO"

["HUDSON RIVER"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further (Boston)............

The center-entrance motor cars purchased by the BERy for service in the trolley subways were also the first cars purchased that were equipped for MU operation.......

"NYO"

["LACONIA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

North Jersey Rapid Transit (operated by PSNJ circa-1924 through 1928)

Though all of the JEWETT interurbans in the (small) NJRT fleet were equipped for MU operations, most trains were single car.

Exceptions were charter runs and other special movements; even here, train lengths seldom (with exceptions) exceeded two cars in length.

Interestingly, the cars were equipped with "third rail" shoes to actuate lineside signals.......

"NYO"

["PATERSON"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

San Diego was another city which operated MU-equipped streetcars.

Into the early 1950s, the BTC (Baltimore) operated two-car MU trains of red-painted deck roof cars; these trains (which ran on the Sparrows Point line) were known locally for years as "Red Rockets"..........

["BALTIMORE TRANSIT COMPANY"]

[Cyberider]

LARy also had a class of cars built in the 1920's that could MU but were rarely used in this manner and later in life, never.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Articulateds........

Only a very few American cities operated articulated streetcars; Baltimore's distinctive articulated cars were unique in that they were the only ones which were "home-built", instead of being built new.

These crowd-swallowing monsters (as I've already noted) were built using older, obsolete conventional cars and retired opens.

When these cars were backing out of a wye (or carhouse yard) the conductors had to leave the car and flag down motor traffic, in order for the units to reverse direction safely.

Prior to 1950, these huge cars were retired (all were scrapped) being deemed "non-standard" rolling stock by the BTC............

"NYO"

["WATCH SWING OF CAR"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further:

It is interesting to note, that PS never had even the slightest interest in the articulated car concept; such equipment, IMHO, would have been ideal for the busiest ESSEX Division routes, including the City Subway.

PS easily could have followed Baltimore's lead and rebuilt older, obsolete equipment into articulateds for the City Subway, prior to its 1935 opening.........

"NYO"

["PUBLIC SERVICE COORDINATED TRANSPORT"]