<div dir="ltr"><div><div>Interesting is the fact that the reasons (dreamed up by Capital Transit in 1947) for conversion of the <span style class="">Benning</span> Road service from streetcar to bus were first, the fact that during rush hour periods the service frequency had to be less than 60-seconds between cars. These lines (<span style class="">Rosslyn</span>-<span style class="">Kenilworth</span>; Washington Circle-Seat Pleasant; Washington Circle-<span style class="">Kenilworth</span> Junction; 15th & New York-<span style class="">Kenilworth</span> Junction; and Potomac Park-Seat Pleasant) required the use of a "plow pit" at the interface between conduit and overhead operation. The changeover from conduit to overhead and vice <span style class="">versa</span> took an even 60-seconds and could not be <span style class="">speeded</span> up using Capital Transit methods (London (UK) accomplished this faster than 60-seconds) Therefore <span style class="">headways</span> could not be less than 60-seconds. Buses were the answer. Second, eastbound cars at 15th & New York Avenue were being delayed do to heavy traffic and the fact that streetcar movements at that intersection caused missed opportunities for cars to go on their proper routes. Streetcars were always backed up two or more blocks waiting for a green light to go their respective ways at 15th & New York. Third, traffic congestion along <span style class="">Benning</span> Road was increasing and those two lanes of streetcar track would make more room for autos. Now, nearly 70 years later, suddenly traffic is no longer a concern for the operation of streetcars on <span style class="">Benning</span> Road. <br>
<br></div>Not to mention that the new Washington streetcar system uses overhead wire, hanging above the streets, inside the District of Columbia. I supposed that this took "an act of Congress" to allow overhead wire in D.C.<br>
<br></div>I'm glad the streetcars are coming back, however, why did they have to go in the first place?<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Dec 22, 2013 at 11:47 AM, John Swindler <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:j_swindler@hotmail.com" target="_blank">j_swindler@hotmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><br>
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Benning Road from front of tour bus during recent TRB meeting. About half the span wires were in place, but no contact wire. Work was underway at turnback near Union Station. Grading completed no construction yet on carbarn at east end of the line. A stated purpose is to help revitalize a run-down area.<br>
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> Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2013 16:00:29 +0000<br>
> From: <a href="mailto:bobrathke@comcast.net">bobrathke@comcast.net</a><br>
> To: <a href="mailto:pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</a><br>
> Subject: Re: [PRCo] DC Streetcar<br>
<div><div class="h5">><br>
> An interesting animation teaching people the things we learned from parents and friends in the "old" streetcar era. Attached are a couple of photos I took in Georgetown on 11/3/78. I had thought that the sign was a remnant of the streetcar days in D.C., but it may have been posted later to warn bicyclists of the rail that was still in the street 16 years after trolleys ended in the District.<br>
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> ----- Original Message -----<br>
><br>
> From: "DF Cramer" <<a href="mailto:alto_trombone@hotmail.com">alto_trombone@hotmail.com</a>><br>
> To: <a href="mailto:pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</a><br>
> Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2013 6:26:15 AM<br>
> Subject: [PRCo] DC Streetcar<br>
><br>
> <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/21163/watch-ddots-beautifully-animated-streetcar-video/" target="_blank">http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/21163/watch-ddots-beautifully-animated-streetcar-video/</a><br>
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> We now have to teach people how to react.<br>
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> Dennis F. Cramer<br>
> <a href="http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/" target="_blank">http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/</a><br>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div>Herb Brannon<b><font color="#888888"><div>In Pittsburgh............<br></div><div>.................A City And<br>.........A State of Mind</div>
</font></b></div></div>Let's Go Pens<br></div>Let's Go Steelers<br><br></div>
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