The Chicago Streetcar That Gave Birth to 20,000 PCC Trolleys and Rapid Transit Cars!

In 1934, the Chicago Surface Lines contracted with J.G. Brill and Pullman-Standard to design and built two revolutionary new streetcars that would be unlike anything that has been seen before.

In conjunction with the Electric Railway President's Conference Committee, the two Chicago cars would be similar to the two cars being built by the committee, but would only run in Chicago.

Two cars were delivered. No. 7001 from Brill, and No. 4001 from Pullman-Standard. Both cars would be instrumental in the final development of the PCC car, the single most successful streetcar in history.

In this video, we look at the story of No. 4001, a one-of-a-kind streetcar that all 20,000 PCC streetcars and rapid transit cars could trace its lineage to.

Many thanks to the Hicks Car Works Blog and the Illinois Railway Museum for permission to use the research and photographs that are on the Hicks Blog and are part of the IRM's photographic collection.

UPDATE: In the video, I state that CSL 4001 is being stored outdoors at the IRM. I just learned that the car is now inside Barn 13, and is protected from the elements. Several viewers also mentioned this.

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