The Application and Equipment of the Birney Safety Car

In the 1910's and 20's, economic pressures and the rise of the motorbus produced dramatic changes in the streetcar industry. A promising solution to ensure profitability was the introduction of the so-called "Safety Car" designed by Stone and Webster Corp. engineer Charles O. Birney. This type of small trolley featured several innovations, including deadman controls that cut power to the motors and applied brakes in an emergency. The main attraction for transit companies however was the fact that the cars' design allowed a man to both run teh car and take fares. The elimination of the conductor without any apparent compromise in safety sold the public on the cars and produced an immediate cost savings. This high quality booklet is a reprint of a brochure originally produced by Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. to promote these cars and Westinghouse running gear.