By Ralph Cantos

By the mid-1940s, more than 600 single end PCCs had been delivered and were in service across the USA. Most of the nearly identical air-electric PCCs had been built by the St. Louis Cars Co. Only 11 new PCCs built by Pullman Standard had been delivered to just one city, that being Baltimore. But that was about to change.

Pacific Electric’s 30 first ever, double-end, coupler-equipped, multiple-unit, and in my opinion, the MOST BEAUTIFUL PCCs EVER, were built by Pullman Standard, their largest order up to that time. The 600 or so PCCs built up to that time varied in length, width, seating, door arrangements, and electrical equipment. But in general, all 600 of those first PCCs were identical.

PE’s 30 double-enders literally stopped the PCC show. PE was thrust into the national public transportation spotlight. The cars broke with all existing established PCC tradition. Except for the 5 Market Street Railway hybrid PCC lookalikes, known as the “Magic Carpet Cars” or “One Arm Bandits”, virtually all PCCs were single enders.

Not only were the PE’s PCCs long and wide, they were able to operate in trains of up to 3 cars. This photo taken in early 1941 shows the “Pride Of The PE” in all their glory.

Orders for Pullman Standard built PCCs increased dramatically after the introduction of PE’s PCCs.

The General Electric Company — always the champion of electrically powered public transit vehicles — was eager to showcase the PCC. GE produced at least three lavish films featuring the latest types of electric transit, including the Trolley Coach. The first of these films produced in early 1937 (in black & white) was titled “Modern Electric Transit”. This film put a heavy emphasis on new trolley coach installations across America. Also featured were the new PCCs delivered to the Brooklyn and Queens Transit, Union Pacific’s M10000, ocean liners Queen Mary and Normandy. Even the Hindenburg was shown as the “Luxury liner of the Skies.”

The second film, “Life Stream Of The City” (in color, above) was produced around 1946-47 and showcased various rail operations both rapid transit and PCCs (surface cars) and trolley buses. PE’s PCCs were shown in a positive spotlight.

The last of these GE films to feature PCCs was tilled “GOING PLACES” and was produced about 1952-53. It once again showcased PE’s PCCs as well as LATL’s near new P-3s at Rimpau Loop. Most of this film was made on the Shaker Heights Rapid Transit featuring new Pullman Standard MU PCCs.

Unfortunately, by the mid-1950s, General Motors had begun an unstoppable campaign in print and film media to sell America on buses, Chevys and Buicks. One film “Lets Go To Town” (above) showcased GM’s latest buses “with their smart new interiors.”

Not content to sell America on buses, GM produced still another film titled “Give Yourself The Green Light” (above). This film encouraged the construction of interstate highways across America. This particular film hit below the belt in showing the Pacific Electric’s abandoned and destroyed right-of-way at the Barham Boulevard bridge in the Cahuenga Pass, stating the placement of rail line tracks in the center of “Expressways” was a waste of taxpayers’ money. The space occupied by rapid transit tracks would be better used for motor vehicle traffic lanes.

GE produced at least one more transit related film titled “Rapid Transit – 1964”. This film showed no PCCs, but rather showcased new rapid transit operations in Chicago and Toronto. From then on, GE concentrated on jet engines and diesel locomotives.

General Motors had won the battle and the war. Too bad for everyone.

Ralph Cantos Collection

By Ralph Cantos

This publicity photograph taken on the north bound lanes of the Cahuenga Pass was staged for all to behold. Pacific Electric proclaimed that a new era in transportation had arrived in Los Angeles. Modern flexible motor buses could now be routed to meet the needs of the ever-changing San Fernando Valley.

I am sure that all the media text that accompanied the several photos, where produced by the Minister of Propaganda for General Motors. The propaganda department of GM had produced several films to be shown to civic leaders all over the USA. The most notorious of these films was titled “LET’S GO TO TOWN” (mid-1955). The film listed city after city across America that are “Going The Motor Coach Way.” The film showed PCCs in such cities as Detroit and Philadelphia as a slow, outmoded form of city transit. The film went on to say that streetcars (PCCs) operating on fixed guideways on narrow streets were as inefficient and outdated as the horse and buggy. The GM film also went on to say that bus routes could be changed at will, to meet the ever-changing needs of the City.

But in the decades that have passed since PE staged the “Modern Motor Coach Caravan” has proven beyond dispute, is that in general, the traveling public prefers rail transit over buses. To be sure, any transit system needs buses in their fleet as part of a balanced system. Buses have their place in such a balanced system. But, according to General Motors, all the needs of ANY major American City could be handled by fleets of buses.

Not mentioned in GM’s propaganda film is that what business man is going to invest assets built around a bus stop pole, that can be removed or relocated at the discretion of a City or Transit official. The film goes on to say, that major transit systems could sell off all out dated rail infrastructure. Not mentioned in the film is where are the buses to be stored and maintained. But sadly at this time in history, America ate up all the crap that GM could dish out and large scrap metal companies, Mexico City and Toronto would become the beneficiaries of this terrible waste.

Ralph Cantos Collection