Philadelphia Transportation Company 8042

Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

Built in:1923 by J.G. Brill Company (ord#21708)
Out-of-service/Retired:1957
Type of car:streetcar (Peter Witt)
Current Owner:Pennsylvania Trolley Museum(Washington, Pennsylvania)

Car History by Frank Hicks


Philadelphia Transportation Company 8042
This car was one of over 500 ordered in 1923 by PRT from Brill; the order was divided between single-end streetcars (like 8042), double-end streetcars and work cars. The majority - 385 of the cars - were Peter Witt style cars like 8042 that had front entrance and center exit doors. Originally some cars, 8042 included, also had a turnstyle installed forward of the center doors to regulate fare collection; this was later removed. Between 1940 and 1941 nearly 150 of the 1923 cars were modernized, among them 8042. Improvements included herringbone gears, new braking equipment, interior refurbishment and a flashier paint job that gave the rebuilds the nickname "Paintliners." PTC 8042 ran in this configuration until retirement in 1957, when it was acquired by one of the Trolley Valhalla component groups and moved to New Jersey. TV's collection was later transferred to BVTA, and eventually, around 2000, 8042 was moved to the ECTM site in Scranton. In 2005 the car was sold to PTM and restoration work was begun. This is one of three 8000-series PTC cars preserved, and has the distinction of being the last car to run on the York-Willow Grove Line (Route 55) in Philadelphia in 1940.

Ownership History:Philadelphia Rapid Transit #8042 1923-1940 / Philadelphia Transportation Company #8042 1940-1957 / 1st preserved by Trolley Valhalla 1957-1975 / later preserved by Buckingham Valley Trolley Association 1975-1999 / Pennsylvania Trolley Museum(Washington, Pennsylvania) 2005-present



Facts and Figures


Status:displayed inoperableGauge:5'2.5"
Construction:steelRoof type:AREnded:SE
Length:46'6"Width:8'6"Weight
#Seats:57#Wheels/Conf.:8 (1A-A1)Total HP
Trucks:Brill 39E2Brakes:SME (MD35)Compressor:CP-27
Motors:GE 275 (2)Voltage (if not 600DC)


Notes

Later preserved by Electric City Trolley Museum (1999-2005)
PHOTO