Greetings!
Gleanings from *Trolley Fare* "Pittsburgh Points"
by Edward H. Lybarger and Lawrence. G. Lovejoy
May--June--1979
"Reconstruction of the 1600-series PCC cars has been gloriously
completed with the debut of car 1799 (x1613). Although the car is not
yet in service at this writing due to various mechanical items needing
completion, its most outstanding characteristic is immediately evident
to even the most casual observer. Yes, faithful readers, the Port
Authority has evolved yet another new paint scheme, which we fervently
wish were setting a new standard for all new vehicles and future
repaints."
Wonder what that new scheme could be. . . . ?!?!?!:::>>>)))
Jim Holland wrote:
> Checking back issues of *Trolley Fare* for information on the above and
> the team of L&L (this has nothing to do with M&Ms) state in their column
> 'Pittsburgh Points by Edward H. Lybarger and Lawrence G. Lovejoy' in
> November--December--1978, and I quote:::::::
> "Car 1788, the former Bicentennial Tour Trolley, has recently given up
> its red/white/blue paint in favor of a coat of standard orange, and the
> last of the operable 1600s - 1613 - is in the shop for conversion to
> 1799."
> This is excellent evidence *if* the shop relayed the right information
> to the writers. It was possibly some time later that a question of car
> numbers came up and that 1640 got substituted for 1613. It was recent
> investigation (within the last several years) which then redetermined
> that it was 1613 and not 1640 which became 1799.
> Won't promise to read all subsequent columns but it now seems that best
> evidence is 1613 as 1799!
> And tis definitely sad that 1614 was lost to an accident and especially
> in light of its historical significance and the integrity of it original
> condition. It was truly a handsome car repainted in the simplified half
> n' half scheme!
> Does anyone know the history of 1640? in pat's March--05--1975 fact
> sheet, this car was still in the half n' half scheme and 1613 was in the
> red front scheme!
> Kenneth Josephson wrote:
> > I was looking at some Harre Demoro pix from his 1969 Pittsburgh visit. 1640 looked
> > really terrible at that time. I am surprised it survived the 1600 series purge of
> > 1972. It was a real shame that 1614 was wrecked. That car's body was still intact
> > to the end. The front valance below the anticlimber and the wheel openings were
> > never cut. In fact, there is evidence that when the front lower panel was bent in a
> > minor mishap during the '60's, the shop crew straightened it rather than cut it.
> > 1614 carried all three roof vents until its career was cut shot by that wreck.
> > Besides, it was my favorite 1600. Ken J.
James B. Holland
Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), 1930 -- 1950
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