What the H*ll was HE Doing There?!? (Formerly Westinghouse PCCs on Route 21)

[Kenneth and Tracie Josephson]

Robert E. Rathke wrote:
> 
> This subject of PCCs on 21 Fineview became too interesting, so I made a
> complete review of photos I took on Fineview in the months the trolleys
> operated out of Tunnel Car House from 9/5/65 to 4/30/66 (or very early in
> the morning of 5/1/66, to be precise).

I appreciate that. Thank you! :-)
> 
> Here are the cars I photographed (dozens of times for some) in that
> period: 1637, 1676, 1678, 1681, 1683, 1684, 1686, 1687, 1689, 1690, 1693,
> 1695, 1696 and 1697.

All GE cars except 1637 and (Bruce's sighting of) 1641.
> 
> 1637 ran on Fineview on Easter weekend, 1966.  I rode it and took
> interior and exterior
>          night photos.
> 1678 was on Fineview a lot in April, 1966, and it was the last car on the
> line on 4/30/66. 1697 ran on Fineview a LOT in the first four months of 1966.  It was the second-last car on the line on 4/30/66.

I have a shot of 1697 with a sign in the window stating it was the last
car. I have seen pictures of 1678 with captions stating it was the last
car as you indicated. Was one revenue, the other a "second section" or
"fan car?" When I was riding the Drake line last month, I met a small
elderly man who claimed he was the motorman on the very last Fineview
car. He did not resemble either motorman (1697's nor 1678's) from the
last day photos. Things that make a guy say, "Hmmmm...." ;-)

>          The second-last photo I took of this car was around Midnight on
> 4/30/66 - it shows
>          John Dameron at the front door directing passengers off the car!

What the H*ll was HE doing there?!? I'd like to purchase a copy of that
picture... or swap a copy of one of my pix with you. E-mail me privately
if you are interested.

>  My last photo of 1678 was at 12:10 AM at 9th and Liberty as the
> car (with a Car House sign)
>          headed back to Tunnel.  Then we all ran down the street to catch
> the last 6/14
>          trolley (PCC 1799) to Avalon.

I have a beautiful "Carbarn Sally" night shot of 1799 on that run. See
Dave's Train pictures...I had Dave place it along side a shot of the
first Pittsburgh PCC car (when it was M-11) for a contrast.

http://davesrailpix.railfan.net/pitts/jpg/pitt455.jpg

http://davesrailpix.railfan.net/pitts/jpg/pitt456.jpg

In any event, 1697 seems to have been the mot frequently assigned 
Fineview car. I have a friend and coworker here in Las Vegas whose
mother lived in the area at the time. She even noticed 1697 was on the
line quite a bit in the mid 1960's. Incidently, her father was a crane
operator at Pressed Steel Car Company. Ken J.