New kid on the block

[AProchek at aol.com]

Hi guys - OK, since you asked (and remember, you asked for it)

Name's Alex Procyk - I am originally from Pittsburgh but now in Houston TX 
(Not to be confused with my Uncle who was for a short time somehow involved 
with the restoration organization effort for 4398).  My Dad was a big trolley 
fan - when he was young he used to run the cars around the loops when the 
motormen would let him.... some 50 years later he joined the Pennsylvania 
Trolley Museum and got to drive them around again.

My favorite memories were of the Overbrook line and I just had to build a 
version for my N scale my layout. Broke my heart when they closed it and 
demolished the trestles - you know they are going to make it really ugly when 
it gets rebuilt like the other part of the light rail system.  Occasionally I 
pop Transit Gloria Muni's South Side Lines tape and just look at how nice the 
old system fit in with the landscape, as opposed to the new system's 
concrete-ed, galvanized, plowed, paved and fenced assault on nature.  I guess 
that's the price for speed and reliability but at what cost?  They couldn't 
even preserve the Drake line for a "PTM North" style weekend excursion route 
even though Toronto and San Francisco showed that old PCCs can run reliably 
within limits.  I mean, couldn't they at least paint one of the damn LRV's 
something other than white?  Harold, come back, we need you!

The layout is hanging on my wall now but I'm almost done with some custom 
built West Penn and Pittsburgh PCC cars (OK, Overbrook isn't Trafford - so 
sue me).  I'll post pics when they are done.  I painted a 1700 series a 
deeper gloss red to represent a newly shopped car and a 1600 series a flat 
orange-red to represent one that's been in the sun awhile.  I trust that if I 
went on PRC's property ca. 1950 they would match some of the cars.  I mean, 
they only had 600+ of them.

I have about 30 or so other trolleys ranging from a 1905 Carlisle and Finch 
2" gauge to a brass HO P.N. Jones and everything in-between.  These will 
probably end up at PTM after my demise but don't hold your breath (I hope).

Like I said, you asked.....