PRC background (con't)

[Robert Schmidt]

Sorry about that, fellows. My dog hit the "send" key before I was
finished....

Continuing....my interest developed early and I believe it had much to
do with sensory perception....the grinding sound of the motors and
compressors, and smell of overheated condensers and creosote laden ties.

I spent many a day sneaking around and boarding the old high floor cars
and work equipment at Palm Garden loop, (and being chased by the Yard
Super.)  

My Father knew one of the men at #1 Car House who let me operate a low
floor 48 Arlington car (under his supervision, of course) for a
distance of twenty whole feet!
I was age eight at the time (1944), and already I wanted to be a
Motorman. (never did though.)

I roamed the Junction yard until the LRT system was put into operation
in the 80's. That's when my photography stopped, as I felt I had a
decent photo record of the preceding years of the Pittsburgh transit
system. Not as far back as I would have liked, but better late than
never.
My photography started in the 60's when I was able to afford a good 35mm
camera, an H1a Pentax which I used to shoot slides using K-25
fine grain film. 

The work equipment fascinated me more than the passenger-carrying PCC
stock simply from a standpoint of very few being alike...(McGuire and
Differentials excepted). To me, the old cars were more fascinating, had
more character and romance from a nostalgic viewpoint, than the smooth,
quiet, Presidential Conference Cars. This is a personal viewpoint, and
by no means is meant to ruffle feathers, or imply any dislike for the
PCC family. I love them too! 

I have many experiences to share about the earlier days, but that's for
another time.
 
Bob Dietrich will be presenting a cross-section of pics from my
collection on his S. Hills Junction site in the near future. Hope you'll
visit and enjoy them. 

Bob Schmidt