G.E. Equipped PCCs

[Kenneth and Tracie Josephson]

Derrick J Brashear wrote:

> I am curious, though, if ride quality had anything to do with PRCo's
> dislike of the GE control package, or if it was just cost or ease of
> maintenance (thoroughly understandable positions, just not worth as many
> "brownie points")

Harre Demoro raised the question of "Hometown Pride" in a 1973 article on Pittsburgh.
He really didn't know much about the system, nor the characteristics of the cars
retired prior to his first visit during March, 1969. All he was aware of were other
cities where cosmetically identical cars of the same vinatge continued to run together
with a mixture of GE and Westinghouse gear. Then he arrives in Pittsburgh, only to find
older air-electric cars still in use while the system's 25 newest cars are retired and
being cut up. And these 25 cars  (all GE equipped) appear identical to another 70 or so
cars retained for service (all Westinghouse equipped.) The remaining fifty or so air
cars in service in 1969 are also all Westinghouse equipped, with the newest 1600s (GE)
gone. Westinghouse is based in Pittsburgh. I can see why he raised the question, even
if the answer was no. Ken J.