I remember riding those streetcars on the Grand line to the old ballpark-Sportsmen's Park on ladies day with my mom, aunt, grandma and cousins. We would all get in for 50 cents each. It looked just like this car. And seeing the old Hodiamont line which had it's own ROW in north St. Louis, it looked like an alley, we'd pass by on the way to see my grandparents who lived north.
Why was the photo taken without the rear pole on the wire?
I can understand why the car is now equipped with a front pole, proabably there are no loops or wyes at each end of the run.
Is this particular car one which ran in Saan Francisco? Only San Francisco and El Paso had front trolley poles on their PCCs. I've never cared for the goofy, non-standard control setup that the St. Louis system had on it's cars. Luckily the Shaker Rapid PCCs which came from ST. Louis had their controls modified to the PCC standard arrangement. Between the 25 Pullman PCCs, the 20 ex-Twin Cities PCCs and the ex-ST. Louis PCCs, the latter were cconsidered the most mechanically troublesome of the fleet.
A lot of work has been put into this car, including rewiring the whole thing- without a wiring diagram. It's been a long road for all involved and we're finally glad to see the fruits of our labor.
If you're in the area, come out to see this historic event. It will show the streetcar crew how much their work is apreaciated.
On May 21, the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis will inaugurate a restored, operational St Louis streetcar, PCC car #1743. This will be 50 years to the day after the running of the last St Louis streetcar.
St. Louis PS #1743
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