Ref
Description
Limited edition of
55
1937/38
El Paso City Lines St.Louis Car Co. PCC (Jobs 1605 & 1611; 1500-1519
series; acq. in 1950/52).
In
1943 National City Lines purchased the Transportation Division of the
El Paso Electric Co. but decided to retain streetcars on the 3.2 mile
international car line across the border to Juarez, Mexico. In 1950 the
company purchased 17 second-hand PCC cars from San Diego to use on this
line. In San Diego cars were repainted in the NCL colors, front trolley
poles were installed and longitudinal seats were installed to facilitate
passage through Customs. In May 1950 cars 1500-1516 entered service; three
more cars (1517-1519) were added in 1952. The international tramway closed
completely in August 1966 so the bridges over the Rio Grande could be
rebuilt. The line reopened in November 1967, but closed again in July
1969 so that the Customs House could be enlarged. It reopened again in
November 1970, but closed again in August 1971 so that streets could be
widened. It reopened in October 1972, but closed again in July 1973 after
a dispute with the toll collectors. When tram 1516 ventured into Mexico
on 31 July 1973 it was confiscated by the Mexican government, which canceled
the American company's right to operate in Mexico. Tram service resumed
along a truncated route on the American side in November, but ended again
on 4 May 1974. Car 1516 was returned to the U.S. in August, but tram service
was never restored. The vehicles remained in the El Paso depot for several
years, then were dispersed (Information via Allen Morrison).
Liveries available:
Ref.55-1: Mid-60s two-tone green & white.
Ref.55-2: Early 70s light green, red & white.
Ref.55-3: Final green, red, yellow & white.
Scale 1:48
Available Now
Available through SPTC, U.S.A./Canada Dealers
