PCCs 1630 -- 1644 -- B-3s -- B-2A -- B-2Bs

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	This question is mainly intended for Dr. Fred Schneider, III!

	In the foldout in the back of book one, you list a note for 1630
indicating that it was outfitted with B-3 trucks when an extra pair
became available after PCC interurban 1648 was lost in the Homewood
fire.

	I am wondering why they would do this (because it had a roof monitor
and fans and looked a *little* like a 1700 and thus might be upgraded to
an interurban?!?!)

	Also, the car was probably assigned to South Hills after Highland Barn
closed; I often remember seeing it on the 42 line (I lived on Greenmount
1/2 block down from Raleigh).  I don't remember it having B-3 trucks -
all photos I have of the car (even after overhaul and removal of the
monitor and fans) show the Clark B-2 trucks.  Do you have any photos of
1630 with B-3 trucks or other information to verify this change in
trucks?

	I would be interested in knowing more about the experimental B-2A
trucks on 1644.  I have a few photos of this car as an interurban but
the trucks are not clearly visible.  If I understand the description in
the book correctly, the torque arm parallel to and below the tubular
frame was not there and not needed because of special rubber springs.

	Also, concerning 1644  --  it was returned to City status in May of
1949 and most think it did not get a roof light--do you know anything
about this?  I also assume it had a retriever since it was actually used
in service as an interurban and also had a spare trolley pole.

	I really enjoyed the ride in the original B-2Bs - super soft slow
motion movements - really like floating on a cloud.  But the rubber
bolster springs got quite mushy with age causing the car to lean
excessively on turns - which would cause the trolley to follow down the
wrong wire at a turnout - and PRCo either replaced the rubber springs
with a swing link or otherwise bolted the bolster to the frame (sometime
in the very late 50s).  Do you know what they did rather than replace
the rubber bolster springs?  It would have been a real experience to
take an original city 17 down Charleroi or Washington!  I think that the
B-2B might have been a better truck for interurban service than the B-3
although the latter looks more interurban in character - especially when
they were outfitted with the external shocks when delivered!

James B. Holland
------- -- ---------
        Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
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