West Penn 700s --- Pilots/West Penn history part 2
John Swindler
j_swindler at hotmail.com
Thu Sep 21 17:47:18 EDT 2000
>Edward H. Lybarger wrote:
>
> > When West Penn went to one-man cars in the very early 1930s they
>invented a motor-driven deadman system (for which I recently found the
>mechanical drawing [large]). They cut away part of the pilot to
>accommodate this motor.
>
>To which Jim Holland commented :
>
> And 'Faywest' on page.14 of the same book shows a full pilot as well!
>
Which opens the door (Sorry about that Jim, but thank you for doing so) to
the following.
(By the way, for those who haven't guessed yet, I'm confessing that, besides
cutting xerox and postage costs, computers and internet are convenient way
to summarize and distribute information. Since this purports to be a list
of others "afflicted" with an interest in Pittsburgh area electric railways,
rather then just send to Fred S. and Ed L., might as well take advantage of
Derrick's generousity in providing this list to let others have a shot at
anything they might find of interest.) (OK, Jim, so I'm cheap!)
CONNELLSVILLE COURIER, 4 JUNE 1908
WEST PENN TO PUT ON LARGER CARS
----------------
Will Add Ten Feet to cars on Account of increased Traffic
---------------
The West Penn Railways Company are figuring on placing new cars,
fifty-five long on the main line, to take the place of the cars they now
run, which are only forty-five feet in length.
The workmen at the car barn had been busy recently fastening trucks to a
flat bottom, which had been built to correspond in length and width, to a
new fifty-five foot car.
Yesterday, the trucks having been properly adjusted to the bottom, it was
hauled over the line by another car so that the officials might see what
work would have to be done in the way of moving poles at the curves.
The reason for installing a larger car is on account of the increase of
traffic. Just when the new cars will be put into service is not known
CONNELLSVILLE COURIER, 14 APRIL 1910
SIDE ENTRANCE CARS ORDERED BY WEST PENN RAILWAYS CO.
----------------------
Will be the Very Latest Type of Trolley car, Safer and will Carry More
Passengers
----------------------
WILL BE BUILT OF STEEL
----------------
The Cars it is Expected Will Be in Service During the Coming Summer – Now
Latest Type Used on Interurban Roads
------------
The West Penn Railways Company is about to make some very important
additions to its rolling stock, which cannot help but elicit much interest
upon the part of the public. The new cars, which will be the best of the
car builder’s art, will have many new and interesting features developed by
the company. They will be of the central entrance type, a new and important
object in car construction, with the weight per seated passenger very low.
The length of the cars will be 58 feet, having a width of 8 feet 6 inches
and a seating capacity of 76 persons, will at once impress the reader with
the fact that a car of unusual attractiveness is now to be installed in the
service of the West Penn system.
A central aisle with a double row of seats of standard make and being
universally adopted by all railway companies for city and interurban service
will be a pleasing feature. The interior of the car will be ver light and
cheerful. There being no door at either end of these cars, the seats will
be carried forward to the end windows alike at both ends and with the floor
being flush and but a rail enclosure for the motorman, these cars will
present one of the newest features in the observation end type.
Ingress and egress to these cars will be at the side through a system of
double folding doors so arranged that no difficulty will be experienced by
passengers getting on or off. These doors will be operated by door
operating levers which the conductor will control from his position within
the car.
These cars are to be of steel construction, supported upon the latest type
improved railway trucks and have an equipment of interpole motors of 325
H.P. to each car with a suitable type of control for same. The heating of
these cars will be by means of electric car heaters and a ventilation system
consisting of a motor driven fan for circulating the air through ducts
arranged in the car for that purpose. Every means possible has been
considered for the comfort, convenience and safety of the passengers and not
only this but for the transportation of baggage and parcels ample provision
has been made, thus insuring to the friends and patrons of the West Penn
Railways a system complete in every detail.
The smoking section, so popular on the “600” type of cars, will be
embodied in the new models. Half of the car will be used for mixed
passengers. There will be two sections in the other half for men only, one
being for smokers.
CONNELLSVILLE COURIER, 5 MAY, 1910
GREENWOOD MAY BUILD BIG CARS
---------------
It is Believed Here That Car Shops Will Assemble New Coaches
-------------------
WEST PENN SHOPS GROWING
------------------
It will Cause No Surprise If Shops Across the River are Directed to Take
Shells of Big Steel Cars and Complete Them.
-----------------------
Officials of the West Penn have under consideration the matter of at
least assembling the new steel cars at the Greenwood Shops instead of having
them delivered ready for operation. For some weeks past, ever since the
matter of the new cars was taken up, the high officials of the system have
been considering whether the new cars could not be constructed, partially at
least, in the Greenwood Shops. While no announcement has yet been made, it
will not be a surprise at the offices here if orders are issued to the
greater part of the work to be done at Greenwood on the new side entrance
cars which have been approved.
The scope of the work at Greenwood has been rapidly enlarged during the
past few years. One of the first work done, outside of the repairs which
are always necessary at all car barns, was to start a corps of experienced
painters at work. Here it was that the “West Penn green” was created and
for the past several years all car painting has been done across the river.
It might here be mentioned that no system in the country has anything on the
West Penn for the appearance of its cars.
It is understood that the order that has been placed for the new side
entrance cars is only for the shells. It is also understood that the trucks
will be assembled here, as well as the interior fittings.
If these orders come, and they are confidently expected by several
officials, the work will devolve principally upon Master Mechanic Daniel
Durie. The shops were recently enlarged and equipped for heavy work
CONNELLSVILLE COURIER, 21 JUNE 1927
NEWSPAPER MEN AND COMPANY OFFICIALS FIRST TO ENJOY COMFORTS OF “FAYWEST”
--------------------
Press Representatives of Entire Coke Region Make Trip in West Penn’s New
Car.
--------------------
With officials and newspaper men aboard, the new Faywest car deluxe of
the West Penn Railways company made its initial run today over the system
from Greensburg to Brownsville and return, with stop-overs for public
inspection. The car was due in Connellsville on its return at 4:55 o’clock
and was to remain here until 5:25.
The Faywest left Connellsville at 10:37 and arrived in Uniontown at
11:35, those aboard going to the White Swan Hotel for dinner. Men aboard
said they never enjoyed such comfort on a trolley car. The sidesway
noticeable in the ordinary car has been entirely overcome, it was said.
Refreshments were served on the car by Henry Latney, who is employed at the
Connellsville office.
Newspapermen, guest of the company were: Samuel S. George, Greensburg
Tribune-Review; William A. Hellman, Irwin Republican Standard; Harry
Whiteman, Latrobe Bulletin; Howard Stoner, Mt. Pleasant Journal; W. T.
Wertz, Scottdale Independent-Observer; James M. Driscoll, Connellsville
Courier; M. B. Pryce, Connellsville News; J. B. Albright, Uniontown Herald;
J. L. Kaufmann, Uniontown News Standard; George S. Connell, Brownsville
Telegraph.
Officials of West Penn System from Pittsburgh were: W. S. Finley,
president West Penn Electric Company; H. L. Mitchell, president West Penn
railways Company; James McFall, general claim agent, West Penn Electric
Company; H. S. Metcalfe, director public relations, West Penn Railways
Company.
Coke region officials were: Daniel Durie, general superintendent, West
Penn Railways Company; E. R. Kooser, assistant general superintendent; S. J.
Witt, master mechanic; R. W. Eicher, chief instructor; P. A. Meyer,
superintendent track and roadway; W. M. Rogers, superintendent line
construction; W. S. Anderson, office manager; C. W. Michael, division
superintendent, Greensburg; W. F. Long, division superintendent, Uniontown;
I. P. Sisley, general freight agent, Uniontown
The Faywest, the West Penn car deluxe which made its initial run today,
is one of the company’s standard 700 type with center entrance and exit,
full window openings and complete observation. The interior, instead of
having rattan covered cross seats, as has been standard for some time, has
genuine Spanish leather covered bucket type seats especially constructed for
comfort and easy riding. In the general compartment there are 14 double
seats and two single seats. This is the front end in regular operation.
The rear end is the club section with fixed side seats and reversible double
seats. Natural wood finish, with frosted globe interior lighting, blends
unusually well and gives a clear mellow light for reading.
The center entrance type of car was first brought into use in 1910.
Recognizing their merits, the West Penn introduced them into the coke
region. The Faywest is a great advance over the earlier types and
represents a forward step in car equipment for the local utility. The car
is equipped with an improved truck and magnetic brakes. The West Penn
considers this brake the most efficient for this territory. The trucks of
the Faywest have been specially designed to avoid side sway and give quiet,
easy riding qualities. Helical gears are used with Westinghouse motors,
geared for a speed of 45 miles per hour on the level.
The heating of the Faywest is provided by the latest type of footrest
heaters, thermostatically controlled. The entrance and exit doors and
electrically controlled, being operated by a 1-12 hors4epower 250 volt
motor. These doors can be opened by trainmen from any position within the
car. Cluster lights are placed directly over the doors, adding to the
safety of passengers boarding or alighting. Safety and emergency equipment
is provided on the Faywest as it is on all of the cars operated by the West
Penn. The over all length of the Faywest is 57 feet and the width
approximately 8 ½ feet.
The operating crew was made up of motorman George W. Freeman and
Conductor Freeman G. Pyle, Connellsville.
CONNELLSVILLE COURIER, 22 JUNE 1927
“FAYWEST” PUT ON REGULAR MAIN LINE SCHEDULE
--------------------
The “Faywest”, the West Penn Railway Company’s new deluxe car, went into
regular service this morning and although fresh from its maiden voyage
yesterday, still attracted considerable attention today as it covered the
route from Greensburg to Uniontown.
The company will watch the car closely for the next two-week period in
tan effort to determine, if possible in that time, the attitude of the
public toward the innovation. Daniel Durie, general superintendent of the
company, said the car would always be available for chartering purposes, and
said he was considering equipping it with tables similar to those on
first-class railroad trains so that party groups could enjoy car games and
even have buffet lunches served enroute.
Seating capacity on the car has been sacrificed for comfort, there being
space for just passengers less than on the usual 700 type car.
CONNELLSVILLE COURIER, 10 DECEMBER 1929
Big 700 Car of West Penn Catches Fire, Is Destroyed
-----------------------------
A trolley car of the West Penn Railways Company, one of the “700” type,
and the blue prints and instruments which a power testing crew were using,
were completely destroyed early this morning when a fire, believed to have
originated from a short circuit, swept the car. The damage is estimated at
$16,000.
The car, No. 700, used for power testing purposes between Scottdale and
Greensburg, was being returned to the Greensburg car barns where it was kept
when the flames broke out, completely enveloping it. The short circuit came
as the car was between Kennedy School and Fosterville siding, near Youngwood
at about 4:40 o’clock this morning.
N. E. Ferguson of Pittsburg, superintendent of circuits, w as in charge of
the power testing expedition. He was assisted by Mr. McCrum, also of
Pittsburg. E. C. Shiveley of Greensburg was the third man in the car, being
the motorman. They escaped uninjured.
The fire broke out in the center part of the car. The dryness of the
material and the heavy coat of varnish fed the flames and it was burned to
the trucks. Instruments which the power testing crew was using were in the
center of the car and the men were unable to save them. Overcoats on the
opposite end from where the men were also went up in smoke. Blue prints in
connection with the work were in the pockets of the overcoats. A trolley
pole and ten sections of wire were also destroyed.
The Youngwood Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire and used a
water bucket brigade.
E. R. Kooser and S. J. Witt were summoned from Connellsville and they
cook charge of the “remains” bringing it to the car barns on the West Side.
The Connellsville and Greensburg trolley crews assisted in clearing up the
line in record time.
It was said that the damage to the car was about $15,000 and the
instruments, blue prints, overcoats, trolley pole and wire would entail
another $1,000
And finally, location of picture of car 739 on page 14 of CERA West Penn
book? It's at Banning siding with car heading towards Leisenring.
Photographer is facing east. Banning siding will be found on Connellsville
map in CERA book. The connection with the opening day accident is that this
shows the replacement right of way. We can thank Ed Lybarger for a good
piece of detective work on this and many other West Penn photos.
John
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