Memories -- Excellent List

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	In a private email, John Swindler commented that he was pleased with
all the questions and comments on the PRCo list even though they are
taxing to the memory!
	John and I knew each other in Pgh. and did a little railfanning
together, but I wish it could have been more.  We really don't know each
other as we could.  From posts here, we know that John works for Penn
DOT so he is quite active by career with his hobby!  What may have
eluded many here is the fact that John was editor of *ERA Headlights*
for many years, a job so taxing that it is beyond my comprehension. 
*Headlights* was  t-h-e  main source of good historical articles in
addition to current new for most of us as trolley fans so John has an
excellent background of information on a wide variety of systems!
	And this PRCo list, courtesy of Derrick, is superb!  Most of us here
are familiar with other trolley groups and lists and quite honestly,
absolutely none of them compare to the quality found here.  The quality
of information is excellent and posters stay very much on topic with
very interesting contributions - this just doesn't happen on other
lists.
	And it most definitely must be recognized that Ed Lybarger is  t-h-e 
strong contributor for information in regard to our questions.  Without
his effort and expertise, we would have many questions but few answers!
	Putting this all together, it has been absolutely great reminiscing
about PRCo and keeping its memory alive.  I often pour over my photo
collections and see things I had never seen before and I try to share
them on the list as additional information and with the hope that it
will stimulate conversation, more posts, and more information,
especially the warm glow that each of us can feel when being around the
equipment as it performs.
	And Derrick was quite discouraged as he had formed the list quite some
time ago and it was some time before it became active!  But brother, it
has definitely flourished in a very positive direction.
	Most of you know that I, also, am employed in transit, specifically the
SF Muni.  I am quite active now in the testing program for new Czech
Republic Skoda trolley coaches - 273 of which will be bought with 240 of
them standard length coaches.  I have also joined the JLMB at my local
division - Joint Labor Management Board - which is just that -
management and labor getting together to discuss and resolve local
problems.  I have taken over as secretary for Minutes and thru the
computer and my archaic HP 560C color printer have been able to make
some very presentable copies.  These have caught the attention of other
departments and they are coming over to see what we are doing.
	We are also involved in a project where much of our overhead trolley
wires are being rebuilt.  This is an area that has fascinated me from
before I can remember, much as Ken is fascinated with the feeders that
bring power to the overhead.  Our committee was able to meet with the
Overhead Design crew and as a result, I have some 18"-X-24" inch
drawings on my desk here, 1"-thick, to pour over for corrections from an
operators perspective to location of overhead, design implementation,
breaker-insulator alignment.  This is a project that will consume all my
free time this weekend - and possibly beyond.
	As the Skoda testing program winds down, I will probably change runs
back to daytime (yuck!) with a 12 hour spread in addition to commute
time.  I will just make a tripper or two in both rush hours and will
have paid time free between rush hours where I shall be able to attend
meetings and investigate some of the problems identified thru our JLMB
meetings.  In short, my days shall be extremely long and time consuming.
	What I am ultimately trying to say is that my posting here shall
probably be minimal!  It has been extremely difficult just to keep up
with posts this week let alone respond!  I am still going to be here,
but mainly lurking to be computer-literate-correct  --  if I am able to
accomplish that much.
	Please keep the posts coming - they are fascinating - will try to
contribute as I can!

James B. Holland
------- -- ---------
        Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
    To e-mail *privately,* please click here: mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.mcs.net:80/~weyand/nmra/