PCC speed

[Fred Schneider]

And what was the tire pressure ... were they properly inflated ... was
the speedometer correct if they were properly inflated???? I've rented
cars from Hertz, for example, with normal factory installed speedometers
and odometers that were off by as much as 10 percent.  Were you stuck at
one of the traffic lights while he continued to get ahead of you.  

I'm fully aware of the manufacturers tests of speed capabilities.  I
also run PCCs regularly in two museums ... frankly I have a little bit
of a lead foot ... but I've never managed the speeds suggested.
Electrically, BTC 7407 at the Baltimore Museum is the best ... it is set
up to factory specs ... and I cannot catch anyone in today's automobiles
on Falls Road.  

I also have very high regard for some of the people who have commented
on this issue ... Russ Jackson, for example, is one of the best
engineering minds in the industry today.

Maybe we can stage 100 tests with a 10 different police radar guns and
average the results?????

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Rotthoff [mailto:rotthoff at lamere.net]
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 1999 9:00 AM
To: Pittsburgh Railways
Subject: Re: PCC speed


I was doing about the speed limit [35] on Ardmore when he
passed me. It took me a while to cartch him - past Forest
Hills Park - but for most of the stretch past the Park to the
crest of the little frise and part of the drow downhill [to just
about where WTAE's studio is], I was pacing him.

The car was an unmodified '40 Chevy Super Delux that my
grandfather bought new the year I was born. When he gave
it to me in 56,000 original miles on it and was in mint
condition. It was kept in a garage every single night that he
owned it except when he and my grandmother were on their
annual week's vacation in Bedford....and he washed and polished
it each time he took it out. Wish I still had it.

Dave

----------
> Sounds like the classic fish story to me.  How fast were you closing
in
> on the PCC ... obviously to catch him you had to go faster than he was
> moving.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Rotthoff [mailto:rotthoff at lamere.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 10:38 AM
> To: Pittsburgh Railways
> Subject: Re: PCC speed
>
>
> Jim,
> I was there; I was driving and watching the speedometer,
> and I was sober. I'd tell the same story in court under
> oath.
>
> Dave
>
> > 	As you mentioned, Ardmore inbound is all uphill.  I am sorry,
> but there
> > is absolutely  N-O  W-A-Y  that car was even doing 45 mph when it
> > crested the hill.
> >
> >