The date was Feb. 4, 1952. The Newark City Subway inaugurated all-PCC service, replacing its ageing streetcar fleet with 30 slightly used but snazzy PCCs from Twin Cities Transit (which, like other cities, was switching to buses). They ran for 50 years.
I mention this because tomorrow, July 17, the NCS will inaugurate service on its Broad Street Station extension, linking Penn Station with the Erie-Lackawanna (now NJT) station down near Orange Street, with a few stops in between. Although the PCCs have been replaced by bland, boxy LRVs, I hail the return of streetcars to Downtown.
John, This is a great picture. Also, I agree with you that the "TROLLEY" or "light rail" as NJ Transit now calls it, is a welcome addition to downtown Newark. I hope that more cities will bring it in so that our entire country can get off our dependence on oil. If we are able to stop using oil, then it help reverse global warming.
Can't be 1952. The PCC cars were delivered around then, but use didn't begin until after the Franklin Ave loop was built, in mid to late 1953. However, that is a minor point. Your Newark Subway knowledge and photos are quite good, as is your History of the N Subway. I especially like the old yellow (wooden) cars: in fact, I love them. I got to ride them when in Kindergarden (#29 line - on the street!), and I'll never forget them. Bloomfield Ave was 'dominated' by cobblestones, tracks, and wires ! (and old yellow-bulb streelights as well).
Thanks for the correction, RJ -- the year was actually 1954. Deliveries were made in '53, and Car No. 10 was the first to be put into service Jan. 8, '54. By the next month, the changeover was complete.
This message has been edited by cbonaire from IP address 68.197.163.124 on Jul 16, 2006 5:19 PM
Ah yes, Mayor Carlin. A friend of mine, born in Newark but who pursued a police career down here at the shore, used to refer to old Leo as "the last mayor of Newark who was not indicted or should have been."
Some of the old PSE & G/NJ Transit cars are in San Francisco. 2 or 3 will be painted the colors of other rail lines in the U.S. that used PCC cars. One though will be done up in the true colors of PSE & G original (grey and cream I believe) and travel the SF Muni historic F-Line representing Newark's best, riding alongside cars representing Phila., NYC/Brooklyn and a host of other U.S. cities.
