[Paul C. Koehler]

Originally Posted by transitfan

All PE cars had trolley poles at both ends of the car. When in operation, the trolley pole at the rear of the car will be raised, so that will give you an idea. Also, if the headlight is on, that will also give you a clue.

BTW, the producers of the great film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" did an excellent job of reproducing a PE Hollywood car (the type seen in the above-referenced pics". The one thing they got wrong was, when Eddie Valiant goes to ride the car (and ends up riding the bumper after the conductor won't let him board), both poles are up! If you tried that in real life, the motors would burn out, as whcih pole is raised determines which direction the car will go. It was ok to have both poles rasied when the car was stationary, in fact, usually at the end of the line, the motorman or conductor would raise the other pole first, then lower the other one (this was to keep the interior lights on, as they were also powered from the overhead).

Not quite correct. Having both poles up will not burn up the motors. Yhe overhead wire supplied 600 volts to the car, the controler located in each end of the car controlled the direction and speed.

Paul C. Koehler