PCC Books

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	Just received a nice private email from Fred S. and thought I would
make mention here of an aspect of that letter.

	That aspect concerns the two books that Fred co-authored with Stephen
Carlson:::::::
		*PCC - The Car That Fought Back*
		*PCC From Coast to Coast*

	I personally consider those two books as Perfection Within the Traction
Community Press  --  THE  Standard to which all Traction Publications
should aspire.  They are journalistic excellence with near-exhaustive
research to present the facts concerning these cars and I stand amazed
at their inclusiveness and accuracy.

	In a recent post on photos, an URL of 1225 with experimental B-3 trucks
was identified and I asked if Fred S. could confirm.  And he replied
publicly on the list that he couldn't!
	He wrote privately apologizing for this fact and also apologizing for
any errors in the PCC books.  I have identified some errors in the
books; but these errors are so extremely minor as to not be a
consideration in ascertaining the quality of these books.
	I have felt this way about the books almost since I purchased them. 
The 3-fold-outs in the back of the first books which intimately detail
the working parts and horrendous variety of electrical equipment on each
class of car for each company, body styles, window arrangements, roof
details in addition to  m-a-n-y  of the modifications and experiments is
evidence of the painstaking research that is necessary to even begin to
assemble such information.  I honestly recognize that I really only
appreciate this academically and  k-n-o-w  that the experience of
tackling a project like this is beyond me.
	Additionally, the SOURCES page before the Table of Contents in the
first book details the research process - how the book is based on
*primary sources* and where this wasn't available, then secondary as
compared to a variety of other sources and the best of these if any
doubt.  And when doubt is there, it is either omitted or identified!
	These two PCC books are Quality productions, Extremely High Quality
Productions.
	As an example of my belief in this quality, whenever a question about
the PCC arises, I always quote these books as my Primary Sources.  If
someone does not want to accept this, that is their problem (and to a
small extent a revelation of themselves as well!)  I consider these
books  THE  standard and my Primary Sources when it comes to PCCs and
will use other books about the PCC to supplement, but other PCC books
are NOT used as primary sources!
	I tease Fred about taking on other books fully well understanding his
(hesitance--reluctance--refusal!!) but also hoping for a possibility
while expecting nothing!

	T-H-A-N-K-S  for your past efforts . . .
		E-V-E-R-Y  S-U-C-C-E-S-S  on  ANY  future project!

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
    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/