PCC--the car that fought back

This history of the development of the PCC electric street railway car during the 1930s and its refinement into the 1950s contains a significant amount of technical detail. Beginning with the 1930 street railway industry--one in decline and lacking a modern, competitive vehicle, the book traces the market study, research and development efforts, production and application of the vehicle. Operators and suppliers funded the effort through the Electric Railway Presidents Conference Committee which lent some of its initials to the car's PCC designation. All aspects of the development of the streamlined car are covered: body design, trucks and suspension, motors and drive, control systems, standardization, modularization and lightweight to reduce first cost and operating costs. Also described are contemporary efforts to produce a vehicle competitive with the PCC, as well as application of the PCC technology to rapid-transit vehicles. In conclusion the book tells of the export of both PCC cars and PCC technology to other nations where the technology continued to evolve. PCC cars still operate in some North American cities and elsewhere around the world.