Illinois Terminal 451




Facts and Figures


Current Number451
Railway RepresentedIllinois Terminal
BuilderSt. Louis Car Company
Built In1949
Builder's order id1672
Currently in (State)Connecticut
--(Locality)East Windsor
Totally out of svc date1958
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typestreetcar
-subtypePCC, postwar MU
-designation
Statusstored inoperable
More info
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length50'5"
Width9'0"
Height10'1"
Weight42680
#Seats58
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP220
TrucksSt Louis B3
BrakesElectric
Compressorn/a
ControlGE 17KM12N5
MotorsGE 1220E1 (4)
Voltage (if not 600DC)
NotesMultiple unit

Car 451 on display at CTM in 2018
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/146757535@N05/41626724370/

Car 451 on display at CTM in 2023
Deviant Art
photo: https://www.deviantart.com/rlkitterman/art/Illinois-Terminal-PCC-451-IMG-5689-983171414

Car History by Jack Naugler


Illinois Terminal 451
The PCC (Presidents' Conference Committee) car was developed in the early 1930's to provide a faster, more comfortable car which would allow street railways to better compete with growing automobile and bus competition. IT 451 is a late model PCC of the "all-electric" design, which means the braking and door operation is performed electrically rather than pneumatically. While 451 uses post-war electrical design, the body is of the pre-war design without standee windows. Most PCC's were single ended cars, and ran as single units. #451 is unusual in that it is double ended, and is equipped for multiple unit operation. The Illinois Terminal Railroad used #451 on their suburban line from St. Louis to Granite City, Illinois. The cars ran with a two man crew, the conductor stationed behind the motorman. In 1958 the ITRR ended passenger operations, and this car along with its seven sister cars were stored in the abandoned subway tunnel. In 1960, the eight cars were sold to a scrap dealer, and later two cars were purchased by a private individual and donated to museums. Car #450 was donated to the Ohio Railway Museum in Worthington, Ohio and car #451 to CTM. Briefly in the 1970's both cars were leased by the Shaker Heights Rapid Transit of Cleveland, Ohio to help relieve a car shortage. As part of the lease agreement, the cars were entirely rebuilt by Shaker Heights. This unit is frequently used by the CTM operating department to carry the public.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Illinois Terminal (Missouri, St. Louis)4511949 1958 NO NO
Connecticut Trolley Museum (Connecticut, East Windsor)4511964 present YES NO


Additional Media

[No preview available]

Walk-through tour of car 451 from 2021
YouTube
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBlL_lwZ_xU