Oregon Iron Works - to manufacture new streetcars in the US?

[MP57313]

An article in the Sep 16, 2007 Los Angeles Times noted that Oregon Iron Works' United Streetcar division will begin manufacturing new streetcars (not light rail vehicles) next year.  It will be interesting to see if that happens - is there really a large enough domestic market for that?

[Anonymous]

Little Rock's Street Cars were built in Iowa, I think.

They are considering installing 4 miles of track to reach the Little Rock Airport. (Adams) from downtown. If they do it, it could be really useful.

[artpeterson]

Isn't the OIW project to build a domestic version of the Skoda low-floor artic car, as has been used on the Portland streetcar and in Tacoma?  There was a news item in "Railway Age" in the spring of this year about this.  Art

[al-in-chgo]

 

I've got to ask this:  how do contemporary Americans define the difference between "streetcar" and "light rail," except possibly that "streetcar" brings to mind single-car images and "light rail" usually implies a trainset? 

I mean, if the voltages are the same, aren't the two terms pretty much interchangeable? - a. s.

[Anonymous]

Light Rail specifically refers to the rail itself. It is very light.

Yes one could call it a trolley, but sprout that word and today's generation shake thier heads in not-understanding.

To me, Moller Skycars (And similar) and Monorails are the future.