European Railroad Discussion > Milan Trams Part 1 - the Peter Witt Cars

One of Milan's distinguishing features for those interested in rail is that the ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi) still operates about 150 Peter Witt cars (Class 1500) in regular service on a number of lines.  Peter Witt cars were developed by the Cleveland (OH) Street Railway Co in 1914-1915 as a high density, fast loading and unloading car, named after the commissioner of that system.  Ultimately, they were built by more than a dozen manufacturers worldwide, and operated on more than 30 systems, with Toronto and Cleveland having the largest fleets.  Today Milan is the largest remaining operator.  San Francisco operates 11 Peter Witt cars bought from Milan, and Naples until recently still operated some rebodied Peter Witts, but I can't find info on whether or not those are still running.   Milan's cars were built 1928-1930, and they eventually owned over 500 cars from 6 manufacturers.  The only major modification to them over the years has been the replacement of the original trolley poles with a pantograph, and some of the cars now have an advertising "wrap" on the roof.  The cars are in excellent shape and are well-used on some of Milan's heaviest and most frequernt lines.   Here's a sample of some of the cars around Milan:

1)  Car on the 1-line rolling through Porta Nuova Milano.    Several of the "Portas" around Milan have tram lines through them.  
2)  Coming the other way at Porta Nuova Milano is this Peter Witt in rainbow livery.  
3)  A car on the 10-line meets a 33-line car outside Garibaldi Station, one of the main railway terminals in Milan. 
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/24 19:25 by dwatry.

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4)  10-line car in all-over advertising livery at Garibaldi.  
5)  1-line car on the private grass ROW along Corso Sempione.   In the distance a 19-line car is turning onto Via Domodossola. 
6)  10-line car on Via Procaccini.
 

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7)  5-line car in Porta Venezia neighborhood.  
8)  33-line car at Piazza Ascoli, being followed by a Jumbotram on the 27-line.  
9)  Three Peter Witts in one view at Piazza Ascoli.  
 

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10)  Couple of cars in non-traditional colors at Piazza Ascoli on the 5 and 33-lines.  
11)  19-line car at Piazza Ascoli.  
12)  It wasn't sunny every day in Milan!  19-line car on Via Monti in an absolute downpour.    Probably the wettest I have ever gotten without going swimming.  
 

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13)  And one last one - running through the shopping district on Via Torino.  This car appears to be on a "Servizio Speciale"!  

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Great series.  Thanks for sharing.
jb

Very nice.  Thanks.  Gerry

#12 is a stunning picture.

86235 Wrote:
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> #12 is a stunning picture.

DITTO !!!!!

Thanks guys.  I suffered for my art for #12 - I was soaked through and through.  My clothes, my backpack - everything!   The rainstorm came up so fast and so furiously that I didn't have time to get my rain jacket out of my backpack before I was soaked to the skin!

Great set of photos. Love the rain photo. Chris uk.

A wonderful set, all. So much to see and savor. Certainly the very interesting trams and marvelous locations. But also the general urban scene in one of the great European cities. Thanks much!

MC