Pacific Electric Car

[0303fxm]

Pacific Electric Car (Fantasy)
I have recently painted and decaled this tram of an older Bachmann DCC product.
I have two questions below.
1)   Why the car has different faces of classic 3-window and modern 2-window?
2)   One body side has black net(?) on the windows. (See the last picture.) What is the purpose of the net?

I do expect you guy’s kind responses.  Thank you.

Ryoichi Fukushima
Yokohama, Japan

[Philip H]

That’s actually really nice

[thomasjmdavis]

I have one of these cars in N scale (Bachmann also made them in HO).

I was also a bit confused when I saw the model up close, by the 2 window flat front.  I model Chicago, and all of the CSL/CTA cars had a 3 window curved front (similar to the rear on the model).  The closest prototype I can find was a design done for Baltimore's cars in 1930- which has the flat front with 2 windows.  It also has the screening or safety bars on at least one side, as included in the model.  A review of the HO model from 2008 on the Model Railroader website also identifies it as a Baltimore car.
https://www.trains.com/mrr/news-reviews/reviews/staff-reviews/bachmann-ho-scale-baltimore-streetcar/

One of the Baltimore cars still exists in a museum.   It may be that Bachmann reps measured this car, or got plans from the museum. 
https://baltimorestreetcarmuseum.org/collection/   (scroll down to car 6119)

I believe the screening along the side was a safety measure to keep hands and arms inside the car, and to keep objects from being thrown into the car.  I note on Chicago streetcars that some had similar screens or bars, others did not.  Although, when cars were equipped, they had the screens  on both sides.  My model was purchased brand new from a hobby shop, and only included screens for the side with no doors, as in the photos from 0303fxm, so I am guessing they are only on one side of the real 6119 as it is currently equipped in the museum.

[brill27mcb]

Ryoichi, this is a model of a 1930s vintage "Peter Witt" trolley design. The specific prototype is a series built for Baltimore, Maryland. One car of this fleet is preserved at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum. The yellow Baltimore-painted Bachmann model has the same car number as that trolley. Bachmann in the U.S. based many of its trolley models on Baltimore trolleys.

The "Peter Witt" design is based on the location of the doors and the circulation of passengers inside the car. Most "Peter Witt" design trolleys operated in just one direction, so they had a front end and a back end. Earlier Peter Witt trolleys (in other cities) have the usual 3-window rounded ends and a taller roof arch. By 1929 or so, the lower roof arch and a flat 2-window front end emerged. This was an attempt to make trolleys look more modern by using then-current automobile design features.

Since these trolleys ran one-way only, they would loop around at the end of the route to go back. On double track routes, they would pass each other in opposite directions at a close distance, so the side window guards were installed, but they were only needed on the left side of the trolleys.

I hope this helps you. By the way, you should rotate the trolley pole on the roof 180 degrees, so that it slopes up to the rear.

Rich K.

[0303fxm]

Dear Tom D. and Rich K.

Thank you so much for your very specific explanations including visual data!  I fully understand the response.

Ryoichi Fukushima

[0303fxm]

Would show you other Pacific Electric cars
1.   Showcase Miniature kit: Assembled and painted/decaled by me years ago. Powered chassis by Kato.
2.   Fantasy caboose and freight engine: Painted/detailed by me recently.

Thank you.
Ryoichi

[bbunge]

One of the Baltimore cars still exists in a museum.   It may be that Bachmann reps measured this car, or got plans from the museum. 
https://baltimorestreetcarmuseum.org/collection/   (scroll down to car 6119)

....

I believe the screening along the side was a safety measure to keep hands and arms inside the car, and to keep objects from being thrown into the car. 

This is correct, Bachmann folks spent several weekends at the museum some years ago.  6119 has been out of service for a couple of years in need of new air tanks.  These were recently installed, but the car has a 600 volt ground short currently and is again out of service.

This car is very popular at the museum.  The windows open nicely and the large flat window in front of the operator slides to the side, providing a very, very nice breeze on a hot day.  From a customer perspective, The Witts were large, had wide aisles, the most comfortable seats on a street car yet, had wide doors in front and back that allowed for rapid loading and unloading, bright lighting with lights above the seats to allow newspaper reading, accerlated quickly and were as fast if not faster than most autos of the day.  From an operators perspective, it is easy to get started up, is responsive with the self lapping brake working like a dream.  They were the first all steel cars in Baltimore.  There is a 2nd Baltimore Witt in another museum which was converted to standard gauge (Baltimore was 5 foot, 4.5 inches) but is currently out of service.

Bachmann also measured BSM's single truck 1896 built open car, 554, which has been reproduced in G and other scales.   

The screen is a safely measure and is on the side of the car facing the double track, with the cars being separated by just a few inches.  As Baltimore cars were scrapped, these screens were popular and can be seen today around town as fence tops, plant holders and window screens.

In the 1970s (?), Western Railcraft made wood and brass kits, including some PE models.  These can be found on occasion on Flea-Bay, sometimes for quite impressive prices.  Be wary of kits that are open, perhaps missing parts or partly started.  They aren't easy to build, but if done well, become impressive models.

http://www.trainweb.org/n-trolleys/westernrailcraft/index.htm

Bob

[0303fxm]

Bob,

Thanks for your info on the Western Railcraft Kit. It is very interesting!  Ryoichi