News from National Capital Trolley Museum DCTS 1470

wesp · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2020 2:52 pm

National Capital Trolley Museum has acquired DCTS 1470 from the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The car arrived on July 15. In a surprise move VMT de-accessioned the car to us in 2019. Museum volunteers will evaluate DCTS 1470 for future cosmetic or mechanical restoration.

Wesley

Photo: DCTS 1470 in front is pushed by TTC 4603.

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softwerkslex · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2020 3:45 pm

Which one in the photo is 1470?

wesp · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2020 4:29 pm

DCTS 1470 is the green car in front being pushed by TTC 4603 (red).

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2020 7:28 pm

Nice to hear that National Capital got another DC PCC.

nedsn3 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2020 8:38 pm

It has the standee windows. My favorite of the DCT cars. Used to love riding them to Glen Echo. Ned

wesp · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2020 8:38 pm

This car retains the auto-trolley catcher installed by Capital Transit in the 1950s to save labor at the conduit plow pits.

I will try to find a good photo.

Wesley

wesp · **Posted:** Sat Jul 18, 2020 1:34 pm

DCTS 1470 retains the unique auto-trolley feature developed by Capital Transit in the 1950s. The invention helps the Company to save labor at the by eliminating the "pole man" at the plow pit where power changed from underground conduit to overhead wire.

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The spring-loaded trolley hook releases the pole to a flat metal pan on the overhead trolley wire. The pan surface narrows to guide the trolley pole onto the wire. In reverse, an air-powered catcher pulls the pole down from the wire where the spring-loaded trolley hook catches and secures the pole. Both functions are controlled by the operator from the front of the car.

After testing, the auto-trolley is only used on routes 80 and 82, served by the cars based at the Eckington car barn.

Wesley

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

That's a really neat invention I wasn't aware of.

I must say I was pretty proud of myself for getting good at aiming the trolley pole - practice makes perfect!

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Sat Jul 18, 2020 8:04 pm

Seattle used something similar when they ran their all-service vehicles (switchable trackless trolley and diesel) in the downtown tunnel. They could raise and lower the trolley poles unattended.

Phil Mulligan

70000 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2020 1:35 am

They use them on the Silver Line in Boston at the Silverline Way stop as well......

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This is the changeover point from diesel to electric power on the services that originate at Logan Airport. The route from here to South Station is underground.
Trolleybus #1104 was on a service originating at Silverline Way, which is why the booms are already on the wires before the "W" pan!