Car Life

[Kenneth Josephson]

"Fred W. Schneider III" wrote:

> Again, the issue isn't how long they will last but for how long the
> agency wishes to maintain them.
> Johnstown Traction was a private company that counted pennies.
>
> I think we often, as enthusiasts, spend too much time looking at one
> aspect of our quarry (in this case longevity) without looking at all of
> those factors which the transit manager had to consider.  And if he
> failed to consider them, there was always the unemployment line.

I have read that some private systems decided to go with trolley coaches as an
interim solution to rail car replacement due to:

A.) Heavy investment in DC power distribution systems that still had plenty of life
left.

B.) Shop forces that were well versed in traction maintenance.

C.) Making the system more attractive to a potential municipal purchaser.

D.) To appease unions that believed a switch to motor coaches would reduce
employement within the rank and file.

E.) Despite seeing the decline in patronage, a unique arrangement resulted in power
so cheap as to completely offset the high cost of fixed plant investments ( i.e., San
Francisco and Vancouver for example.)

To get back on topic, I sometimes wonder if trolley coaches woould have been well
suited to the Pittsburgh Hilltop lines such as the 40, 44, 47, 48 and 49. But again,
there's that issue of the potholes and paving blocks shaking the coachwork to
pieces.  Ken J.