Kansas City Public Service 755




Facts and Figures


Current Number755
Railway RepresentedKansas City Public Service
BuilderSt. Louis Car Company
Built In1946
Builder's order id1650
Currently in (State)Illinois
--(Locality)Union
Totally out of svc date1985
(Initial retirement date)1983
Car Typestreetcar
-subtypePCC, postwar
-designation
Statusundergoing restoration
More infohttp://www.irm.org/player/kcps755
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedSE
Length46'5"
Width8'4"
Height11'7"
Weight37800
#Seats51
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP220
TrucksClark B2
BrakesElectric
Compressorn/a
ControlWH XD423E
MotorsWH 1432J (4)
Voltage (if not 600DC)
NotesLater SEPTA #2267 "South Carolina"

Car 755 during switching at IRM in 2016
Hicks Car Works
photo: https://hickscarworks.blogspot.com/2016/05/rarities-on-move.html

Car 755 on display at IRM in 2023
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mugland/52935130071/

Car History by Frank Hicks


Kansas City Public Service
The only KCPS PCC car preserved as such, this car was part of that line's first order for postwar cars in 1946. The president of KCPS, Powell Groner, specified a non-standard design for his cars that featured full-height side windows without the small standee windows - or "apertures" as he derisively called them. These distinctive cars ran in Kansas City until 1954 when most were sold to Philadelphia or Toronto. Car 755 went to the former as 2267, and between 1954 and 1985 mainly ran on Routes 5, 23 and 50. In the mid-1970's it was repainted in red white and blue for the bicentennial and acquired a name, "South Carolina," that it wore until its retirement. After IRM acquired the car in December 1985 and regauged it from 5'2.5" Pennsylvania gauge to standard, it was stored for 15 years before being repainted into its original KCPS "spitball" color scheme. Operational restoration is planned.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Kansas City Public Service (Missouri, Kansas City)7551946 1954 NO NO
Philadelphia Transportation Company (Pennsylvania, Philadelphia)22671954 1968 NO NO
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Pennsylvania, Philadelphia)22671968 1985 NO NO
Illinois Railway Museum (Illinois, Union)7551985 present YES NO