NY Railways 5000 Hedley Doyle stepless car
New York Railways 5000; these Hedley Doyle "stepless" cars were the forerunners of the modern "low-floor" tram concept. Prototype car 5000 was produced in 1912; the single step into the car through its center entrance was only 10 inches, and there were no steps inside the car (although the floor was ramped). Prototype 5000 was followed by an order of 175 cars in 1913-14, and there were also double-decker variants as well as smaller numbers produced for other cities. The Southern Pacified purchased a batch of 36 for its electric lines in California, including some for Pacific Electric. The PE cars were nicknamed "Dragons".
The low floor was achieved much as it is today, by moving equipment normally under the car to the roof and other locations (in this case the driver's cabs got the air compressor and resistor grids), combined with the use of unconventional running gear.
B&W print in my collection, photographer unknown.
NY Railways 5000 Hedley Doyle stepless car
New York Railways 5000; these Hedley Doyle "stepless" cars were the forerunners of the modern "low-floor" tram concept. Prototype car 5000 was produced in 1912; the single step into the car through its center entrance was only 10 inches, and there were no steps inside the car (although the floor was ramped). Prototype 5000 was followed by an order of 175 cars in 1913-14, and there were also double-decker variants as well as smaller numbers produced for other cities. The Southern Pacified purchased a batch of 36 for its electric lines in California, including some for Pacific Electric. The PE cars were nicknamed "Dragons".
The low floor was achieved much as it is today, by moving equipment normally under the car to the roof and other locations (in this case the driver's cabs got the air compressor and resistor grids), combined with the use of unconventional running gear.
B&W print in my collection, photographer unknown.