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<p>Fredbruhn@aol.com wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="arial,helvetica"><font size=-1>However,
my real reason for this is I just looked in at the St. Petersburg</font></font>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica"><font size=-1>web site and</font></font>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica"><font size=-1>our Mr. Holland must have
had a bit too much ginger ale last evening. Take a</font></font>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica"><font size=-1>look at the 1800 series
PCC running in Washington. You will enjoy it too.</font></font></blockquote>
For those of you who did not know, Pittsburgh's final PCC order of 1951
(the little known 1800s) present a rather interesting story.
<p>The company's management thought ridership would remain at high levels
due to the Korean War. Wanting to standardize on PCCs and to rid itself
of those pesky remaining Low Floors, the company decided to order another
group of PCCs.
<p>At this time, St. Louis Car was winding down production and did not
wish to build anymore surface cars after Muni's final 25 car order. Pittsburgh
Railways turned to Pullman-Standard for the first time. The plan was to
use this final PCC order for service in the more affluent parts of town
and downgrade the 1000s and 1100s to tripper service.
<p>Pullman-Standard proceded to build their most beautiful PCC streetcars
ever. The cars featured monitor roofs and picture windows, the latter a
first for PCC streetcars.
<p>The cars arrived in Pittsburgh, looking so beautiful in their 1700 style
white front scheme. Then tragedy struck.
<p>Through an oversight on Pullman-Standard's part, the cars arrived with
standard gauge trucks! Unable to utlilize these splendid new PCCs, Pittsburgh
Railways promptly rejected them.
<p>At a loss with what to do with the unwanted cars, Pullman-Standard made
an unbelievable offer to all remaining standard gauge streetcar operators.
Longtime Pullman-Standard PCC customer Boston knew a once in a lifetime
opportunity when they saw one............................
<br>
<p>.................and now you know the rest of the story! ;-)
<p>Ken J.
<p>P.S.- How long until April First??????</html>