Car Life

[John Swindler]

>Derrick J Brashear commented
>
>On Wed, 27 Dec 2000, Jim Holland wrote:
>
> > Greetings!
> >
> > Kenneth Josephson wrote:
> >
> > > To get back on topic, what was/is the reason PAT had so much trouble 
>with the mono-motor trucks under the light rail cars? Was the design not up 
>to Pittsburgh's topography or was/is it improper maintenance? Someone ask 
>Scott Davis.
> >
> > 	Think that was covered in *Trolley Fare* where it was mentioned that 
>all 4-wheels on each truck *need* to be nearly identical in size - one with 
>more wear than the others caused problems.  Seems to be a design problem - 
>believe that Siemens-Deuwag was forced into paying - don't accurately 
>remember the details.
>
>ISTR they had to supply extra gearbox parts as part of a settlement
>related to this.
>
>-D
>
>


Things I've never heard discussed/won't find in the newspapers concerning 
the alleged gearbox problem in Pittsburgh:

- What gearbox problems were encountered in other cities Duewag cars with 
the same monomoter truck, such as Sacramento, Calgary, Edmonton, San Diego 
and Frankfurt?  And more recently, Denver and Salt Lake City?  Or were 
different gearboxes supplied to these other cities?

-  If the same gearbox was supplied for monomoter trucks in these other 
cities, what was their solution?  And what about settlement with Siemens?  
Or was PAT the only outfit able to encounter problems that resulted in 
service reductions?


Isn't there a wheel truing machine at South Hills Village Car Shop on north 
side of building?  It was pointed out to several of us from PennDOT during a 
visit in early 80s.

John
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