Corgi Vintage Bus Lines US55208
Birney Safety Car Diecast Model
Brooklyn Heights Railroad Co., Car No.7151, Destination Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, NY | Limited Edition
500
Pieces Worldwide |
|
| 1:50 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Birney Safety Car | | 6" | | 2.25" |
"How many more calls would business men make if they knew they could get cars when they wanted them? How many more shopping trips would women make if they hadn't recollections of long waits for cars?" These questions and more were asked by the J.G.Brill Company in their 1919 Electric Railway Journal ad, in an effort to market their Birney Safety Car to cities during a very difficult economic climate. The cars would make their impact and become a permanent fixture of mass transit throughout the country, bringing to life the shared dream of Joseph M. Bosenbury and Charles O. Birney. Destined for Cypress Hills in Brooklyn, NY, car #7151 would have served the 37th City Council District of New York City and its denizens.
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 2003-2026 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 2003-2016 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 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
