The Safety Car Application and Equipment

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In the 1910’s and 20’s, economic pressures and the rise of the motorbus produced dramatic changes in the streetcar industry. A promising solution to ensure profitability was the introduction of the so-called Safety Car designed by Stone and Webster Corp. engineer Charles O. Birney. This type of small trolley featured several innovations, including deadman controls that automatically cut power to the motors and applied brakes in an emergency. The main attraction for transit companies however was the fact that the cars’ design allowed a man to both run the car and take fares. The elimination of the conductor without any apparent compromise in safety sold the public on the cars and produced an immediate cost savings. This high quality booklet is a reprint of two brochures originally produced by Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. and General Electric to promote these efficient streetcars.