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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'> <BR> <BR>Some 10-12 years ago there was a email discussion concerning prohibition of overhead trolley wires in D.C. and the recollection is that it was a local decision, not a federal requirement. Seems like an email string I'd save, but don't know where??? In the internet world, a dozen years ago seems like an eternity. <BR> <BR> <BR><br> <BR><div>> From: hrbran@cavtel.net<br>> Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2013 12:53:52 -0500<br>> To: pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<br>> Subject: Re: [PRCo] DC Streetcar<br>> <br>> Interesting is the fact that the reasons (dreamed up by Capital Transit in<br>> 1947) for conversion of the Benning Road service from streetcar to bus were<br>> first, the fact that during rush hour periods the service frequency had to<br>> be less than 60-seconds between cars. These lines (Rosslyn-Kenilworth;<br>> Washington Circle-Seat Pleasant; Washington Circle-Kenilworth Junction;<br>> 15th & New York-Kenilworth Junction; and Potomac Park-Seat Pleasant)<br>> required the use of a "plow pit" at the interface between conduit and<br>> overhead operation. The changeover from conduit to overhead and vice<br>> versatook an even 60-seconds and could not be<br>> speeded up using Capital Transit methods (London (UK) accomplished this<br>> faster than 60-seconds) Therefore headways could not be less than<br>> 60-seconds. Buses were the answer. Second, eastbound cars at 15th & New<br>> York Avenue were being delayed do to heavy traffic and the fact that<br>> streetcar movements at that intersection caused missed opportunities for<br>> cars to go on their proper routes. Streetcars were always backed up two or<br>> more blocks waiting for a green light to go their respective ways at 15th &<br>> New York. Third, traffic congestion along Benning Road was increasing and<br>> those two lanes of streetcar track would make more room for autos. Now,<br>> nearly 70 years later, suddenly traffic is no longer a concern for the<br>> operation of streetcars on Benning Road.<br>> <br>> Not to mention that the new Washington streetcar system uses overhead wire,<br>> hanging above the streets, inside the District of Columbia. I supposed that<br>> this took "an act of Congress" to allow overhead wire in D.C.<br>> <br>> I'm glad the streetcars are coming back, however, why did they have to go<br>> in the first place?<br>> <br>> <br>> On Sun, Dec 22, 2013 at 11:47 AM, John Swindler <j_swindler@hotmail.com>wrote:<br>> <br>> ><br>> ><br>> > Benning Road from front of tour bus during recent TRB meeting. About half<br>> > the span wires were in place, but no contact wire. Work was underway at<br>> > turnback near Union Station. Grading completed no construction yet on<br>> > carbarn at east end of the line. A stated purpose is to help revitalize a<br>> > run-down area.<br>> ><br>> ><br>> ><br>> ><br>> ><br>> ><br>> > > Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2013 16:00:29 +0000<br>> > > From: bobrathke@comcast.net<br>> > > To: pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<br>> > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] DC Streetcar<br>> > ><br>> > > An interesting animation teaching people the things we learned from<br>> > parents and friends in the "old" streetcar era. Attached are a couple of<br>> > photos I took in Georgetown on 11/3/78. I had thought that the sign was a<br>> > remnant of the streetcar days in D.C., but it may have been posted later to<br>> > warn bicyclists of the rail that was still in the street 16 years after<br>> > trolleys ended in the District.<br>> > ><br>> > > ----- Original Message -----<br>> > ><br>> > > From: "DF Cramer" <alto_trombone@hotmail.com><br>> > > To: pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<br>> > > Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2013 6:26:15 AM<br>> > > Subject: [PRCo] DC Streetcar<br>> > ><br>> > ><br>> > http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/21163/watch-ddots-beautifully-animated-streetcar-video/<br>> > ><br>> > > We now have to teach people how to react.<br>> > ><br>> > > Dennis F. Cramer<br>> > > http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/<br>> > ><br>> > ><br>> > > -------------- next part --------------<br>> > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<br>> > > URL:<br>> > http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131222/a1d8d778/attachment.html<br>> > > _______________________________________________<br>> > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<br>> > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<br>> > > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<br>> > ><br>> > ><br>> > ><br>> > ><br>> > > -------------- next part --------------<br>> > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<br>> > > URL:<br>> > http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131222/69c2655e/attachment.html<br>> > > -------------- next part --------------<br>> > > A non-text attachment was scrubbed...<br>> > > Name: DCTgeorgetownStreetcarTracksA111378.jpg<br>> > > Type: image/jpeg<br>> > > Size: 733107 bytes<br>> > > Desc: not available<br>> > > Url :<br>> > http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131222/69c2655e/attachment.jpg<br>> > > -------------- next part --------------<br>> > > A non-text attachment was scrubbed...<br>> > > Name: DCTgeorgetownStreetCarTracksB111378.jpg<br>> > > Type: image/jpeg<br>> > > Size: 719990 bytes<br>> > > Desc: not available<br>> > > Url :<br>> > http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131222/69c2655e/attachment-0001.jpg<br>> > > _______________________________________________<br>> > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<br>> > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<br>> > > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<br>> ><br>> ><br>> ><br>> > -------------- next part --------------<br>> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<br>> > URL:<br>> > http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131222/613c5572/attachment.html<br>> > -------------- next part --------------<br>> > A non-text attachment was scrubbed...<br>> > Name: DSC_0711.JPG<br>> > Type: image/jpeg<br>> > Size: 1465343 bytes<br>> > Desc: not available<br>> > Url :<br>> > http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131222/613c5572/attachment.jpe<br>> > _______________________________________________<br>> > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<br>> > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<br>> > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<br>> ><br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> -- <br>> Herb Brannon<br>> <br>> <br>> *In Pittsburgh.............................A City And.........A State of<br>> Mind *<br>> Let's Go Pens<br>> Let's Go Steelers<br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> -------------- next part --------------<br>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<br>> URL: http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131222/5dc9f508/attachment.html <br>> _______________________________________________<br>> Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<br>> Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<br>> https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<br></div> </div>
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