Pittsburgh Visit

[Kenneth and Tracie Josephson]

Jim Holland wrote:
> 
> Greetings!
> 
>         Thanks for the info, Ken!
> 
>         I remember you mentioning the remodelling before, and since I
> know that it is a very important room, we won't bother you right now!

Actually, it encompasses four rooms.

>         I thought the 4000s were painted a deep red with dark out colors
> around the windows!

Sounds like a winner! :-)

>         Could care less about the beeses  :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

I hope the light rail cars don't wind up painted that new "PAT Gold"
color. I wonder what it will fade to? ;-)

BTW, the rails on the Drake line are in excellent condition. The wire is
taunt. I have never seen the line in better condition. I took pictures
just for you, Jim. :-) One motorman pushed 4008 up to 40 mph for a bit
on Thursday morning. 4004 was last revenue car to run on Saturday. 

The governors in the light rail cars have been reset to 31 mph (some say
33 mph.) I suppose that doesn't give operators much of an opportunity to
make up time when they fall behind schedule. 

Ed picked a number of Roberta Hill pix for use in museum projects. Scott
Davis gave me some overhead pieces and feeder cable brackets. He also
let me copy some of his literature. I gave the Line and Signal
Department a donation in return. Each half of those feeder cable
brackets weighs forty pounds! I helped one member replace the plywood
deck for the Museum's portable wheelchair lift. I was allowed into areas
not open to the public. One member pulled out 1711 and "spotted" it on
the main line for me to photograph. I tried everyone's patience with a
million questions and my talkative nature, yet everyone was friendly and
helpful. My usually cynical friends at IRM often refer to PTM as "nicest
museum group on the planet." I can see why. 

Ray Lattner invited me to his house to see the nose of 1711. His wife
made me a nice supper. I ate well during the entire trip, but still lost
eight pounds. Tracie still can't figure out how that happened. :-)

More Later. Ken J.