Carhouses, Dave's, Etc./Boeing Vertol and M11

[Fred W. Schneider III]

Boeing Vertol?  I think there is little doubt out there that it was a flawed design.  But
they did represent the first new surface cars in the United States since 1952, and with
that alone in mind, perhaps they deserve a place.  On the other hand, I'm not going to
suggest that all the Siemens or Duewag U2 knockoffs should be preserved someday ... but
one or two maybe ... a San Diego and a Calgary car might be nice.  I suspect, when the
time comes, PTM will learn how to maintain one.

Wonder when the time will come to preserve a Gromaco creation?

Kenneth and Tracie Josephson wrote:

> >
> > > Just as we are criticizing the Pittsburgh area railfans of the early 1960s
> > > concerning M11, as a railfan living in California, so to will you be
> > > chastised (collectively with all other middle age and older railfans) as
> > > being short-sighted for your failure to help save a Boeing-Vertol car at the
> > > Rio Vista trolley museum.
> > >
> > > Is there any difference?
>
> None! Perhaps Seashore will have the foresight to save at least one MBTA Boeing-Vertol
> car.
>
> As over-engineered and troublesome as these cars were (funny how no one ever hears any
> complaints about CTA's B-V rapid transit cars) they certainly filled a gap between the
> PCC era and the modern lightrail era. And their problems have contributed to keeping
> the PCC era alive and well in Boston.
>
> One thing some fans don't want to face or discuss is that the (first generation) PCC
> era would have ended in North America as the cars wore out, even if the systems they
> served had survived as rail operations. Even if PCC production continued through the
> 1950's and up, the body style would have changed, the technology would have continued
> to evolve, etc.
>
> The Boeing-Vertol is not one of my favorite rail vehicles. Not that my emotion driven
> railfan opinions matter. That said, I believe the Boeing-Vertol still deserves a place
> in the history of traction evolution. So there! :-)
>
> Ken J.