As electrical technology advanced, new possibilities developed. The original control system for street cars, like the cars themselves, was workable and robust and, through a period when electric railways were very successful, an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude kept it in use. However, as automobiles began to rob the electric lines of their fares, it became increasingly obvious that better technology was needed.

Thus, as we have discussed previously, in the early 1930’s, trolley operators, working through the Presidents’ Conference Committee, set out to design a car that was technologically up to date. Among the many improvements of their new “PCC” car, was a much advanced control mechanism. However, the basic principle of removing or adding resistance to control the amount of power that reachd the motors remained the same.

Two manufacturers, Westinghouse and GE, designed PCC car controllers, each with its own specific design, and some trolley operators had their own detail variations. But all PCC control systems replaced the hand operated controller with a foot pedal operated like an automobile’s accelerator, with the added feature that releasing the pedal to increase electrical resistance also activated the dynamic braking, noted in a recent post. The old 10 point acceleration system was replaced with many more points, 99 in the case of Westinghouse, allowing for both smoother and more rapid acceleration. All designs also included a foot brake pedal and most had a third “dead man” pedal which, when released, caused the car to go into automatic emergency braking.

Want to see how mid-century transit technology evolved from hand levers to foot pedals? Visit the Northern Ohio Railway Museum in Seville, Ohio, where you can explore our collection of rail cars, including vintage streetcars equipped with revolutionary PCC control systems. Come discover Northeast Ohio’s premier vintage rail destination!