[Keith P.]

There are a few inaccuracies in that article. We didn't have tramcars here until the 1960s. The last rail-based tramcars ran here until 1949, when they were replaced with Brill electric coaches or trolleys, which were rubber-tired -- essentially electric buses. Those ran until 1969, when the system was taken over by the city and they began using GM diesel buses.

I don't know where the old tramcars (called Birneys) were made, but I do know that the Brill coaches were not made locally.

The problem with the trolley/tram concept is that they are by necessity limited in their range since you need lines to let them go anywhere. If you are limiting them to a relatively small area then perhaps they would be OK, but people would always need to transfer to a bus or other mode to get them to their final destination. Not insurmountable, but limiting. I just don't see much advantage to them.