New Orleans Public Service 453

Facts and Figures

Current Number	453
Railway Represented	New Orleans Public Service
Builder	American Car Company
Built In	1906
Builder's order id	643
Currently in (State)	Louisiana
--(Locality)	New Orleans
Totally out of svc date	1967
(Initial retirement date)
Car Type	streetcar
-subtype	semi-convertible
-designation
Status	stored inoperable
More info
Gauge	5'2.5"
Construction	wood
Roof type	DR
Ended	DE
Length	40'6"
Width	8'4"
Height	11'8"
Weight	42000
#Seats	44
#Wheels/Conf.	8
Total HP	130
Trucks	Brill 76E2
Brakes	GE Straight Air
Compressor	[GE CP27]
Control	[K-36JR]
Motors	[WH 306 (2)]
Voltage (if not 600DC)
Notes	Rebuilt to training car in 1940

Car 453 in storage at Carrollton Station in 2002
H. George Friedman, Jr.
photo: http://friedman.cs.illinois.edu/car453/Car453.htm

Car 453 in storage at Carrollton Station in 2009
H. George Friedman, Jr.
photo: http://friedman.cs.illinois.edu/car453/Car453.htm

Car History by Frank Hicks

New Orleans Public Service 453 The oldest preserved streetcar from New Orleans, 453 was originally constructed as a standard Brill-design semiconvertible for service on the Coliseum line. In 1917 it and the 24 other cars in its order were rebuilt by NOR&L. Flat panels replaced the original omnibus sides, the upper sash windows were fixed in place and the cars were renumbered to the 450-474 series. All members of the class were retired and scrapped in 1935 except for 453, which was assigned to Napoleon Yard as a training car. Initially it was operated around the yard by trainees, though it was later put up on blocks and used for the same purpose in a stationary position. In 1960, the car was already the oldest remaining on the system and a plan was hatched to use it in a publicity campaign centered around the 1951 movie "A Streetcar Named Desire." The motors and resistance grids were removed and the car was rewired for 120v AC. Plans fell through and the car was stored at Carrollton Station until 1967, when it was given to the LTDC and moved to a covered display in the French Market. During the mid-1970's it was moved outdoors and remained on display at the French Market until it was moved to the Mint sometime around 1980. In 1991 the car was reacquired by the transit agency, now NORTA, and was moved to Carrollton Station where it remains in storage.

Ownership History

Owner	Car Num	From	To	Preservation?	Loan?
New Orleans Railway & Light (Louisiana, New Orleans)	303	1906	1917	NO	NO
New Orleans Railway & Light (Louisiana, New Orleans)	453	1917	1922	NO	NO
New Orleans Public Service (Louisiana, New Orleans)	453	1922	1967	NO	NO
Louisiana Tourist Development Commission (Louisiana, New Orleans)	453	1967	1991	YES	NO
New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (Louisiana, New Orleans)	453	1991	present	YES	NO