PCC streetcar
| PCC streetcar | |
|---|---|
Three PCCs on the San Francisco Municipal Railway's F-line. Pictured are an example of one double-ended streetcar and two single-ended cars. | |
Interior of a PCC car | |
| In service | 1936–present |
| Manufacturer | St Louis Car Company Pullman Standard |
| Constructed | 1935–1952 (US) 1949–1978 (Europe) |
| Number built | 5,000+ |
| Number preserved | 328+ |
| Capacity | 52–61 seats |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 46–50.5 ft (14.02–15.39 m) |
| Width | 100–108 in (2.54–2.74 m) |
| Maximum speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| Weight | 35,000–42,000 lb (15,900–19,100 kg) |
| Traction motors | 4 × 55 hp (41 kW) motors, 43:6 (≈7.17) gear ratio |
| Acceleration | Variable, Automatic 1.5–4.75 mph/s (2.41–7.64 km/(h⋅s)) |
| Deceleration | Service: Variable to 4.75 mph/s (7.64 km/(h⋅s)), Emergency: 9.0 mph/s (14.5 km/(h⋅s)) maximum |
| Electric system(s) | 600 V DC from overhead catenary |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph or trolley pole |
| UIC classification | Bo'Bo' |
| AAR wheel arrangement | B-B |
| Braking system(s) | Dynamic Service Braking; Friction; for Final Stop, Park; Magnetic |
| Track gauge | 5 ft 2+1⁄2 in (1,588 mm) and other broad gauges 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) and other narrow gauges |
The Presidents' Conference Committee (PCC) is a streetcar (tram) design that was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful domestically, and after World War II it was licensed for use elsewhere in the world where PCC based cars were made.
The PCC car has proved to be a long-lasting icon of streetcar design. Approximately 5,000 PCC streetcars were built in the United States, with production continuing until 1952. In North America, some PCC streetcars are still in regular service, with most operating on heritage streetcar lines. As of 2025, the San Francisco Municipal Railway is the largest North American operator of PCC cars, using a fleet of 27 on two heritage lines.
After World War II, the PCC design was licensed to multiple European companies. Over 15,000 PCC-derived streetcars were built in Europe, including the popular Tatra T3.