Speed

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

Kenneth and Tracie Josephson wrote:
> 
> Jim Holland wrote:
> >
> > Greetings!
> >
> > Kenneth and Tracie Josephson wrote:
> > > I don't see 40 mph as an unrealistic speed for Route 42

> >         That's a PCC at full speed - really can't buy that!
> 
> Why not? I mean the current light rail cars, not the PCCs. The Potomac
> Avenue curve has been straightened and other curves have been reduced
> and/or super elevated to a degree. Why can't the cars (LRVs) operate at
> higher speeds, say from where the current line leaves the Washington
> Road tunnel northbound for a stretch? Ken J.

	Biltmore, Raleigh, Dell Avenues all come in quick succession - 
probably about 2-3 LRVs in length between each street.  Dormont Ave is a 
l-i-t-t-l-e  further but then comes Dell and Alabama and the curve to 
Hillsdale. On the curve to Hillsdale is a passenger stop and the curve is 
a blind curve.  No speed here - car might have to stop and besides the 
operator can't see clearly around the curve.  Longer stretch to Potomac. 
- ALL of this is backyard running in very close quarters.  You may stop 
cars with crossarms but there are children all over the place - will they 
stop for crossarms?  It is far too congested an area.
	Then you have the Beechview Streets - Broadway.
	Then you have three long trestles, downgrade, long blind curves 
and several stops.  You can't get going 40 mph in case you have to stop 
at one of the stops and you can't see clearly around the curves.  Signals 
won't prevent hitting something else on the tracks and the tracks have 
been common ground to many people for most of the century!

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