Corgi Vintage Bus Lines US55207
Birney Safety Car Diecast Model
Connecticut Company, Destination Middletown 2350, Middletown, CT, 1920s | Limited Edition
1080
Pieces Worldwide |
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| 1:50 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Birney Safety Car | | 6" | | 2.25" |
As with many transportation properties in the part of the 20th Century the Connecticut Company sought ways to reduce cost and increase operational efficiency. The answer to these needs was found by the design and availability of the Birney Safety Car. These smaller cars consumed less electricity, were less costly to maintain and only required an operator rather than the then standard crew of Motorman and Conductor. Prior to 1920 the Conecticut Company purchased 82 of these cars and assigned them to shorter less heavily traveled routes in such cities as Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, New London, Waterbury, Stamford, Middletown, Meriden and Derby. These cars outlived their usefulness by the beginning of the 1940s. All of these cars except for car No.2350 were scrapped by 1941. Car No.2350 is now part of the steetcar collection of the Shoreline Trolley Museum in East Haven Connecticut. Designed to provide frequent transportation service without the high labor and infrastructure costs of conventional streetcars, the Birney Safety Car was patented in 1917 and 1919. This small, light car was inexpensive to build and required only one operator, which saved transportation authorities the cost of hiring a conductor in addition to a motorman. Thousands of Birney cars were in service through the end of WWI, when their popularity began to decline because of growing public perception that they were "flimsy" (they could not travel in snowy conditions and their limited passenger capacity made them poorly suited for busy service). © Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc. Corgi's 1:50 scale Birney Trolley car series features its chassis, loaded with a multitude of individual transparent windows, constructed entirely of diecast metal. The conductor controls are visible through the large windows located at each end of the car. When held to the light, a fully rendered passenger cabin and can be seen inside. The two spring-loaded pole bases rotate on top of the car with metal trolley poles that pivot and can be lowered into its catch for proper display. The underside features details of the braking system in diecast metal, metal track wheel and simulated wooden racks and bumpers at each end. © Copyright 2003-2017 The Flying Mule, Inc. The Corgi "Vintage Bus Lines" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of mass-transit vehicles. Corgi "Vintage Bus Lines" diecast vehicles feature: - Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Detailed rotating wheels with rubber tires.
- Realistic panel lines and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc. |
