St. Louis Car Company
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Car Company was a major United States
manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcar
s, trolleybus
es and locomotive
s that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri
.
of street and steam railways. In succeeding years the company built automobiles, including the American Mors, the Skelton, and the Standard Six
. The St. Louis Aircraft Corporation
division of the company partnered with the Hutting Sash and Door company in 1917 to produce aircraft. During the two world wars, the company manufactured gliders, trainer
s, Alligator
s, flying boat
s, and dirigible gondolas. Among their most successful products were the Birney Safety Car and the PCC streetcar
, a design that was very popular at the time.
The firm went on to build some of the vehicles used in the transit systems of New York City and Chicago, as well as the FM OP800
railcars manufactured exclusively for the Southern Railway
in 1939.
In 1960, St. Louis Car Company was acquired by General Steel Industries
. In 1964, St. Louis Car completed an order of 430 World's Fair picture-window cars (R36 WF) for the New York City Subway
and was continuing work on 162 air-conditioned aluminum cars (PA1/PA2) for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
to use on the Port Authority Trans-Hudson
line to New Jersey. Also in the mid-1960s, the company completed building the passenger capsules, designed by Planet Corporation, to ferry visitors to the top of the Gateway Arch
at the Jefferson National Expansion Museum in St. Louis, Missouri.
St. Louis Car continued business until 1968 and finally ceased operations by 1973. The final St. Louis Car products were R44 subway cars
for the New York City Subway and Staten Island Rapid Transit, and the USDOT State of the Art Car (SOAC) rapid transit demonstrator set whose design was based on the R44.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcar
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s, trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es and locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
History
The St. Louis Car Company was formed in April 1887, to manufacture and sell streetcars and other kinds of rolling stockRolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
of street and steam railways. In succeeding years the company built automobiles, including the American Mors, the Skelton, and the Standard Six
Standard Six
The Standard Six was an American automobile manufactured in St. Louis, Missouri by the St. Louis Car Company from 1909 until 1910. The company initially built Mors cars under license as the "American Mors", beginning in 1906; it turned out an overhead valve 50hp six of 6965 cc under its own...
. The St. Louis Aircraft Corporation
St. Louis Aircraft Corporation
St. Louis Aircraft Corporation was a American aircraft manufacturer founded in September 1917.In 1915, the St. Louis Car Company had been approached by Thomas W. Benoist to build 1000 flying boats in 1915. A prototype was built, but the concept did not into production.In 1917 The United States...
division of the company partnered with the Hutting Sash and Door company in 1917 to produce aircraft. During the two world wars, the company manufactured gliders, trainer
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
s, Alligator
Landing Vehicle Tracked
The Landing Vehicle Tracked was a class of amphibious vehicles introduced by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Army during World War II. Originally intended solely as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations, they rapidly evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles as well...
s, flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s, and dirigible gondolas. Among their most successful products were the Birney Safety Car and the PCC streetcar
PCC streetcar
The PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...
, a design that was very popular at the time.
The firm went on to build some of the vehicles used in the transit systems of New York City and Chicago, as well as the FM OP800
FM OP800
The OP800 was a lightweight, streamlined railcar built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1939. Fairbanks-Morse supplied the 800 hp, five-cylinder 8 x 10 opposed piston engine prime mover. The units were configured in a highly-unusual 2-A1A wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of road trucks, and...
railcars manufactured exclusively for the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (US)
The Southern Railway is a former United States railroad. It was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894...
in 1939.
In 1960, St. Louis Car Company was acquired by General Steel Industries
General Steel Industries
General Steel Industries, Inc., or GSI, was an American steel company originally founded as General Steel Castings Corporation in 1928.The company was initially headquartered in Eddystone, Pennsylvania and, prior to completing its own modern steel foundry in 1930, acquired the operations of the...
. In 1964, St. Louis Car completed an order of 430 World's Fair picture-window cars (R36 WF) for the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
and was continuing work on 162 air-conditioned aluminum cars (PA1/PA2) for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
to use on the Port Authority Trans-Hudson
Port Authority Trans-Hudson
PATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
line to New Jersey. Also in the mid-1960s, the company completed building the passenger capsules, designed by Planet Corporation, to ferry visitors to the top of the Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, or Gateway to the West, is an arch that is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States...
at the Jefferson National Expansion Museum in St. Louis, Missouri.
St. Louis Car continued business until 1968 and finally ceased operations by 1973. The final St. Louis Car products were R44 subway cars
R44 (New York City Subway car)
The R44 is a New York City Transit car model that debuted in 1971 and currently operates on the Staten Island Railway.-History:The R44 was the first 75-foot car for the New York City Subway. It was introduced for the B Division under the idea from New York City Transit that a train of eight cars...
for the New York City Subway and Staten Island Rapid Transit, and the USDOT State of the Art Car (SOAC) rapid transit demonstrator set whose design was based on the R44.
Products
- San Diego Class 1 StreetcarsSan Diego Class 1 StreetcarsThe San Diego Class 1 Streetcars were a fleet of twenty-four unique streetcars that were originally built to provide transportation for the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park. The cars were designed by the San Diego Electric Railway Company under the leadership of John D. Spreckels and...
(1910-1912) - PCCPCC streetcarThe PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...
streetcars (1930s-1950s) - Peter Witt streetcarPeter Witt streetcarPeter Witt was a Cleveland Railway commissioner, who designed a model of streetcar known by his name, and used in many North American cities, most notably in Toronto and Cleveland.-Features:...
s - Trolley busesTrolleybusA trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
- InterurbanInterurbanAn interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
cars - Gas-electricDoodlebug (rail car)In the United States, doodlebug was the common name for a self-propelled railroad car . While such a coach typically had a gasoline-powered engine that turned a generator which provided electricity to traction motors, which turned the axles and wheels on the trucks, versions with mechanical...
railcarRailcarA railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s - CRT/CTAChicago 'L'The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
5003-5004 PCCPCC streetcarThe PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...
elevated-subway cars (1947) - retired 1985 - CTAChicago 'L'The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
6001-6720 PCCPCC streetcarThe PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...
elevated-subway cars (1950-59) - retired 1992 - CTAChicago 'L'The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
1-50 PCCPCC streetcarThe PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...
elevated-subway cars (1959-60) - retired 1999 - Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee RailroadChicago North Shore and Milwaukee RailroadThe Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, often called the North Shore Line, was an interurban railroad line that operated between Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, until its abandonment in 1963.- Early history :...
ElectrolinerElectrolinerThe Electroliners were a pair of electric passenger train sets operated by the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, which ran between Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These streamlined electric multiple unit interurban trains were built by St. Louis Car Company in 1941. Each...
(1941) - State of the Art Car (SOAC) heavy rail transit demonstrator set for US DOT (1974) - now at Seashore Trolley MuseumSeashore Trolley MuseumThe Seashore Trolley Museum, located in Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, is the world's oldest and largest museum of mass transit vehicles....
- MetraMetraMetra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
Illinois Central Electric DistrictMetra Electric LineThe Metra Electric District is an electrified commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra which connects Millennium Station in downtown Chicago, with the city's southern suburbs...
HighlinerHighlinerThe Highliner is a bilevel Electric Multiple Unit railcar. The original series of railcars were built in 1971 by the St. Louis Car Company for commuter service on the Illinois Central Railroad, in south Chicago, Illinois.-History:...
electric MU carsElectric multiple unitAn electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
(1971-72) - NJ Transit (NJ DOT/Penn Central) Arrow I electric MU cars (1968-69)
- NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R8AR8A (New York City Subway car)R8A was a class of New York City Subway revenue cars built in 1939 by the St. Louis Car Company, and used to gather and transport tokens from stations along the IND division. 66 and 67 were the only two cars built. Being blind motors, the cars were usually towed around by a set of out of service...
(1939) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R17R17 (New York City Subway car)The R17 is a New York City Subway car class built in 1955. It was one of three car classes purchased in the mid-1950s by the New York City Transit Authority to replace much of the pre-World War II IRT High Voltage rolling stock, which included the Gibbs cars, the Deck Roofs, and the Hedley Hi-V...
(1954-55) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R21R21 (New York City Subway car)The R21 was a New York City Subway car built by St. Louis Car Company in 1956–57. The R21 was similar to the R17, except that it featured windows of a slightly different design. Two different propulsion system were used, Westinghouse and General Electric . The R62A fleet started replacing...
(1956-57) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R22R22 (New York City Subway car)The R22 was a New York City Subway car built in 1957 for the IRT division. They were the last single cars built prior to the R33 World's Fairs in 1963-4. The last R22s were retired on December 30, 1987 with the last run being on the with a solid consist of R21/R22 cars...
(1957-58) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R27R27 (New York City Subway car)The R27 was a New York City Subway car built by the St. Louis Car Company for the New York City Transit Authority in 1960–61. The R27s were a continuation of the R16 style....
(1960-61) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R29R29 (New York City Subway car)The R29 was a New York City Subway car built in 1962 by the St. Louis Car Company for the IRT division . They have very similar appearances to the R26 and 28 cars with the exceptions that they were built by a different company and permanently paired with link bars, not couplers...
(1962) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R30R30 (New York City Subway car)The R30 was a New York City Subway car built by St. Louis Car Company for the New York City Transit Authority in 1960–62. It was a continuation of the R16 and R27 style. They were a "follow-up" or supplemental stock for the "B" Division's R27s and closely resemble them.The cars were...
(1961-62) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R33R33 (New York City Subway car)The R33 ML was a New York City Subway car built by St. Louis Car Company in 1962–63. They were a "follow-up" or supplemental stock for the "A" Division's R29s and closely resemble them. Five hundred cars were built, serving on all IRT subway lines. They were rebuilt between 1986–1991...
(1962-63) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R33 WFR33 World's Fair (New York City Subway car)The R33 World's Fair is a class of 40 single cars for the New York City Subway car built in late 1963. They were made for the "A" Division, but only assigned to the service and were based out of Corona Yard. They were used to make 11-car trains with the R36 WF cars, which were built as two-car...
(1963) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R36R36 (New York City Subway car)The R36 was a class of New York City Subway cars built in 1964 by the St. Louis Car Company, St. Louis, Missouri for the IRT division...
(1963-64) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R36 WFR36 World's Fair (New York City Subway car)The R36 World's Fair New York City Subway cars were built in 1963-1964 by the St. Louis Car Company in St. Louis, Missouri for the IRT division . They were purchased for service on the IRT Flushing Line which was the closest line to the 1964 New York World's Fair...
(1963-64) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R38R38 (New York City Subway car)The R38 is a New York City Subway car class built in 1966–1967 for the New York City Transit Authority to run on routes previously operated by the IND and BMT. A total of 200 R38 cars were ordered.-Description:...
(1966-67) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R40R40 (New York City Subway car)The R40 was a New York City Subway car built between 1967 and 1969 by the St. Louis Car Company in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the B Division.-About:...
(1968-69) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R40MR40A (New York City Subway car)The R40A was a New York City Subway car order built by St. Louis Car Company between 1968 and 1969. The order contained two forms: a slant-ended version that was similar to the original R40 order , and a straight-ended version similar to the R42 order...
(1969) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R42R42 (New York City Subway car)The R42 is a New York City Subway car built between 1969 and 1970 by the St. Louis Car Company in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the B Division. This fleet of cars were the first to be fully equipped with air conditioning. The R42 fleet is numbered 4550-4949...
(1969-70) - NYCTNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
R44R44 (New York City Subway car)The R44 is a New York City Transit car model that debuted in 1971 and currently operates on the Staten Island Railway.-History:The R44 was the first 75-foot car for the New York City Subway. It was introduced for the B Division under the idea from New York City Transit that a train of eight cars...
(1972-73) - Hudson & Manhattan Railroad/PATHPort Authority Trans-HudsonPATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
"K-car"/MP51 (1958) - PATHPort Authority Trans-HudsonPATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
PA1 (1965) - PATHPort Authority Trans-HudsonPATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
PA2 (1967) - Seaboard Air Line 2027-2028SAL 2027Seaboard Air Line 2027 and 2028 were lightweight, streamlined Diesel-electric railcars built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1936. Electromotive Corporation supplied the 600 hp, eight-cylinder Winton Diesel 201-A prime mover and electric transmission components. The units had an B-2 wheel...
RailcarRailcarA railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s (1936) - SEPTA Silverliner III (PRR MP85) cars (1967)
- Southern Railway FM OP800FM OP800The OP800 was a lightweight, streamlined railcar built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1939. Fairbanks-Morse supplied the 800 hp, five-cylinder 8 x 10 opposed piston engine prime mover. The units were configured in a highly-unusual 2-A1A wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of road trucks, and...
RailcarRailcarA railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s (1939) - Victorian RailwaysVictorian RailwaysThe Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
Petrol Electric railmotorDiesel Electric railmotor (VR)The Diesel Electric Rail Motor was a railmotor operated by the Victorian Railways of Australia.-History:...
(1928)
See also
- Brownell Car CompanyBrownell Car CompanyBrownell Car Company was a horsecar and streetcar builder in St. Louis, Missouri.Originally founded as Brownell and Wight Car Company by Frederick Brownell and Andrew Wight in 1875 as a horsecar builder, the company was renamed in 1879....
- Canada Car and Foundry
- Ottawa Car CompanyOttawa Car CompanyOttawa Car Company was a builder of streetcars for the Canadian market and was founded in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1891. The plant was located at Kent and Slater Streets, a short distance from Parliament Hill...
- New York City Subway rolling stockNew York City Subway rolling stockThe New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system and has a large fleet of rolling stock.-Overview:As of June 2011, there are 6,292 cars on the NYCT roster. Train assignments can be found here: A typical revenue train consists of 8 to 11 cars, although shuttles can be as short as two, and...
- F-Market & Wharves Streetcar LineF MarketThe F Market & Wharves line is one of several light rail lines in San Francisco, California. Unlike the other lines, the F line is operated as a heritage streetcar service, using exclusively historic equipment both from San Francisco's retired fleet as well as from cities around the world...
- John I. BeggsJohn I. BeggsJohn Irvin Beggs was an American entrepreneur, industrialist and financier associated closely with the electric utility boom under Thomas Edison. He was also associated with Milwaukee, St. Louis, Missouri and other regional rail and interurban trolley systems...
- List of rolling stock manufacturers
External links
- Builders of wooden railway cars: St. Louis Car Company from ironhorse129.com — some photos of early SLCC cars.
- Guide to the St. Louis Car Company Collection at Washington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
(PDFPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
)