Rationing did affect streetcars as well; steel was for the navy, air force and army, and so basically no regular fleet renewals or construction/repair happened

Rationing did affect streetcars as well; steel was for the navy, air force and army, and so basically no regular fleet renewals or construction/repair happened during this time. Then after the years of good profits, the legacy of deferred maintenance had to be dealt with; all that heavy usage took its toll.