PCC Streetcars were developed in the 1930's in response to the need to modernize service and compete with the growing use of automobiles. The major stakeholders in the industry, including operators, manufactures and suppliers worked together during the process on research and development. The result was the PCC Streetcar, a thoroughly modern design that vastly improved on what streetcars had offered, bot for the customer and the operator.

PCC Streetcars were operated by cities all other North America. In fact, the design was licensed internationally, so these cars were seen in other parts of the world too. In North America, the PCC Streetcars, and most light rail for that matter, lost out to cars and buses. Nearly all of them were gone by the end of the 1960’s.

In an ironic twist of fate, the PCC Streetcars saw their greatest use and success outside of North America. But with the ever increasing numbers of cars in big cities, many city leaders across North America have revived older light rail systems, or built new ones. And in some cases, have even brought back refurbished PCC Streetcars for special services. San Diego MTS is a great example of this, check out their restoration project HERE.