[PRCo] Re: Jim Holland's Memories

[Greg King]

Greetings,

Been there, done that!!

Greg
> They called me the Sand--Dumper once lrv service commenced in SF
> (sanders NEVER worked on the PCCs).  In anticipation of
> slippery--slopes, I would sand one car length before braking and all the
> way thru braking.  Thus when I applied power, ALL wheels were over sand
> and I couls start without spinning!  Sanding after slipping//sliding
> begins is of marginal value until all driving wheels have sand under
> them!  Besides, a cloud of dust trailing from the train is kind of 
> *Kool!,* Yes?(:=>)
> Brand new wheels on the lrvs and brand new rail on the system were a
> menace for a while.  Rail top is somewhat rounded, and wheel-tire has an
> angle several degrees off horizontal - so there is precious little
> contact between wheel and rail.  And the lrvs have slip//slide control
> where the computer automatically shuts of and reapplies power.
> I was working Judah with an lrv and we have a required safety-stop
> inbound before crossing 22nd; passenger stop is on the far side.  It is
> a good 6-percent plus grade into 22nd which then levels off.  As I
> powered across the intersection gently, the slip-slide cut in and out a
> couple times and some woman got all over my case about rough operation. 
> I explained how the computer did that and she retorted that I did it on
> purpose to make the ride uncomfortable  --  Not a bad idea - thanks for
> the suggestion.  After that, I used plenty of sand!
> 
> -- 
> James B. Holland
> 
>         Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
>     To e-mail privately, please click here: mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
> N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.mcs.net:80/~weyand/nmra/
> 
>