New Orleans Public Service 966

Dave's Electric Railroads

Built in:1924 by Perley Thomas (ord#127)
Out-of-service/Retired:1964
Type of car:streetcar (standard)
Current Owner:Lowell Historical Park(Lowell, Massachusetts)
Car History by Jack Naugler



NOPSI Museum Cars General
Hundreds of streetcars operated in city service in New Orleans from the 1920's until 1964, when many of the city's streetcar lines, except for the St. Charles line, were discontinued in favor of buses. When this occurred, NOPS donated many of their excess cars to trolley museums around the country, keeping some of the latest cars (in the 900 series) for their continuing needs. The 800- and 900-series cars retired in 1964 are typical of city cars that were in use throughout North America from the 1920's through the 1940's. Their interiors are very spartan, having slat seats, bare interior side panels and no heaters. New Orleans continues to operate this type of car, many times rebuilt, to this day. One thing about this car that is not typical is that the seat backs have provisions for small signs that marked the separation between the "white" and "colored" sections of the car, a situation that was common in many southern cities in the early part of the 20th century due to "Jim Crow" laws.


New Orleans Public Service 966
Car 966 operated in city service in New Orleans from 1924 until 1964, when many of the city's streetcar lines, except for the St. Charles line, were discontinued in favor of buses. When this occurred, NOPS donated many of their excess cars to trolley museums around the country, keeping some of the latest cars (in the 900 series) for their continuing needs. NOPS 966 was donated to the Heart of Dixie NRHS in 1964, but the chapter later decided to concentrate on steam railroading for their museum and made 966 available to Seashore in 1982. While 966 suffered vandalism and weather decay during its storage in Birmingham, it has since been restored to its original condition. 966 had to be re-gauged from the 5' 2 1/2" gauge used in New Orleans to the 4' 8 1/2" standard gauge before it could be used. This car is typical of city cars that were in use throughout North America from the 1920's through the 1940's. The interior of 966 is very spartan, having slat seats, bare interior side panels and no heaters. New Orleans continues to operate this type of car, many times rebuilt, to this day. One thing about this car that is not typical is that the seat backs had provisions for small signs that marked the separation between the "white" and "colored" sections of the car, a situation that was common in many southern cities in the early part of the 20th century. (i.e."Jim Crow" laws). Car 966 has operated at Seashore regularly, and in 2003 was loaned to the Lowell National Historic Park where it operates on a regular basis along with the Park's Gomaco replica trolleys.

Ownership History:New Orleans Public Service #966 1924-1964 / 1st preserved by Heart of Dixie Chapter, National Railway Historical Society 1964-1982 / later preserved by Seashore Trolley Museum 1982-2003 / Lowell Historical Park(Lowell, Massachusetts) 2003-present


Facts and Figures


Status:operated oftenGauge:4'8.5"
Construction:steelRoof type:AREnded:DE
Length:47'8"Width:8'4"Weight:42036#
#Seats:52#Wheels/Conf.:8 (A1-1A)Total HP:130
Trucks:Brill 76E2Brakes:Straight AirCompressor:CP-27
Motors:GE 263A (2)Voltage (if not 600DC): 

Notes

Former 5'2.5" gauge; owned by Seashore Trolley Museum
PHOTO PHOTO