More on Drake

[Edward H. Lybarger]

The City Paper piece misses a few points, too.

1.  The Pittsburgh Light Rail Guide of August 1986 (author unidentified)
says that car 4008 (pictured) was built in 1986, from pieces of 1767, which
was delivered 4-11-49 and placed in service three days later.  All other
sources say that 4008 was still under construction as of 5-31-88 and was
made from pieces of 1709, delivered 2-19-49, in service 2-22-49.  I haven't
a clue who is right or who is wrong, but it wasn't 1947 as the article says.

2.  No decision on the cars' disposition has yet been made.

3.  The ventilating fans do not run from the traction motors!

4.  Sleet does not constitute a "mechanical failure."  If PCCs were so prone
to mechanical failure, how did the design stay in service for 63 years?

5.  PCCs can "out-maneuver" buses?  They miss Smith's point about fixed
guideway transit.

At least the writer didn't misquote me, even though he failed to credit some
of what I told him (like Dan Bell's patent).

Ed