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October 17, 2004

Not Your Grandfather's Streetcar

On the old Perley Thomas 800- and 900- series cars, the operator controls the car with two handles, a throttle and a brake. The 2000-series Von Dullen streetcars are quite different, with a control panel that is similar in style to most modern light rail vehicles. The throttle that moves the car forward is just to the left of the main control panel.

Power for the 2000-series cars still comes from the 600-VDC power lines that have powered streetcars in New Orleans for over a century. So, in spite of all the modern features and controls on our new streetcars, they still move up and down Canal Street just like their predecessors. This is, of course, why they also easily merge onto the St. Charles Line to get back to the Carrollton barn. You’ll also notice that the new streetcars also have a key-lock, to keep someone from just jumping in and taking one down the street.

This control panel is inside car 2014, shot at the Canal Street stop on the Riverfront Line, just before turning for its outbound run up Canal.

Posted by Edward J. Branley at October 17, 2004 8:23 PM

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