call for conjecture... (power/coast points)

[Edward H. Lybarger]

The general rule in Pittsburgh was power for the curve, coast to go
straight.  There were, of course, exceptions.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
[mailto:owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org]On Behalf Of Derrick J
Brashear
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2000 1:21 AM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: call for conjecture... (power/coast points)


I recall reading some time back an article in "ElectricLines" when that
was still being published, I believe about a system where the diverging
route was "coast" and the main route "power" because there was a single
turnout on their system on a hill which made coasting into it difficult.

While on my way home this evening I was thinking about this. I know that
at least in the PCC days in Pittsburgh a toggle was used instead of
"power" but the idea was the same... were there any places on the system
where "coasting" was a problem? I'm not looking for a definitive answer,
conjecture is fine. With a system the size of Pittsburgh's and in a city
with its geography, I'd guess there was somewhere, but I can't think of
anywhere for sure.

-D