Speed

[Kenneth and Tracie Josephson]

Jim Holland wrote:
> 
> Greetings!
> 
> > > From:         Kenneth and Tracie Josephson[SMTP:kjosephson at sprintmail.com]
> 
> > > To get back on topic, when I was in Pittsburgh last month, the buzz was
> > > the governors on the LRVs were reset to 31 mph. . . Scott Davis showed
> > > me signalling hardware which indicated that some sections of the system
> > > *could* support 70 mph operation. I see no reason why the line isn't
> > > operated in the 40-60 mph range.
> 
>         W-H-E-R-E-?-!  Forget it thru Dormont and Beechview.  From Dormont
> Junction to Cape May trestle there is either too much actual street running, too
> many curves, or too many grade crossings.
>         Also, too many curves on the prw from Palm Garden to Beechview Streets
> in addition to grades.  Any speed approaching 40 mph between Dormont Junction and
> Palm Garden seems way out of line.
>         The only section for any speed is between Mt. Lebanon and the Village,
> and that is severely limited.  And the best place in this section for any real
> speed is from the Village to Washington Junction.  There is or was a good open
> stretch between Mt. Lebanon and CS but there are several grade crossings to
> contend with.  One near CS might warrant crossing arms but the others are smaller
> and less used crossings.
>         Maybe 40 mph, but I have an extremely difficult time visioning 70 mph.
> Outer Library if upgraded and then for maybe one second at 70 mph!  There isn't
> any light rail today running that fast.  Most new systems held top speed to 50
> mph; Portland was the first with 55 mph - don't know if others have followed!

I was pacing a San
Diego Trolley along the Interstate and clocked one at 52-55 mph (our
Oldsmobile has a digital speedometer checked by AAA as being accurate.)
As for Pittsburgh, Scott said the signaling hardware was laid out in
places to accomodate 70 mph speeds, not that PAT intended go that fast.
Remember, Route 42's claim to fame is massive overkill! :-)

I suppose the cars could reach 40-60 mph on stretches of very well built
and very well maintained trackage in the Downtown Subway, the Mt.
Washington Tunnel, the Washington Road tunnel and the outer end of the
Library line.  I don't see 40 mph as an unrealistic speed for Route 42
along some short stretches in Dormont or in Mt. Lebanon above Castle
Shannon.
Just keep automobiles off the grade crossings. :-/  Ken J.