One of the "original" Perley A. Thomas streetcars, 426 was one of fifty streetcars purchased by the New Orleans Railway and Light Company for operations on the St. Charles and Tulane Belts, as well as the Jackson line. These streetcars were acquired from the Southern Car Company in St. Louis, MO. The NORy&L company liked the design of the original 400-series because it was "semi-convertible." This meant the cars could be converted from being fully closed to partially open-air by raising the thirteen windows on either side. The design was so well-received by the New Orleans transit authorities that Perley Thomas was able to leave Southern Car and start his own company, from which he sold the 800- and 900-series streetcars to NOPSI.
Like the 800s and 900s, the 400-series was designed for two-man operation, with a motorman in the front and a conductor in the rear. Passengers boarded in the rear, paid their fare to the conductor, then exited from the front.
This photo, shot by John Teunisson on St. Charles Avenue, shows 426 moving away from the photographer, on the uptown track. Note the "people catcher" that is raised on the end closest to the photographer, not in use because that end is the "back" of the streetcar at the moment.
The 400-series streetcars remained in service on the St. Charles and Tulane Belts until 1947, when they were replaced by the 800- and 900-series Perley A. Thomas streetcars.
