TTC -- PRCo Connection

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

> John F Bromley wrote:
> . . . Only VERRRRRRRY reluctantly did we even manage to save 4500 and
> 4549, and TTC is going kicking and screaming, even now, toward providing
> them with their overhauls and shelter.

	Oooooh, ooooooh, oooooh (to paraphrase  *the*  comic on this list)!

	TTC 4500--4549 is a sister (of sorts) to PRCo 1725--1799  --  these are
the only cars to sport the Clark B-2B trucks and it would be absolutely 
*s-u-p-e-r*  if these trucks could be overhauled to original condition.
	When I heard that former cars of this series were going to Kenosha, I
was quite excited.  But the bubble was burst when I heard they were
outfitted with CTA trucks.
	This was one absolutely phenomenal truck  --  it caused the body to
move in apparent slow motion at dips and gave a ride that was truly like
floating on a cloud.  Operators in Pgh. said that it seemed as though
the car was getting lighter as speed increased and that it would float
off the track like a feather blowing in the wind!
	In heavy traffic where the power pedal is on--off repeatedly, the car
very gently lifts with power application and ever so gently settles when
it is released - very distinguishable from the outside.  Pgh either
installed swing links by 1960 or otherwise removed the rubber spring
bolster as the ride was hard, without the floating feeling, and was just
like the other PCCs except for the interurbans.
	I travelled to Toronto in 1960--1961 with my Grandfather for the Shrine
convention and my heart was literally in my mouth when I saw a
4500--4549 series car in heavy traffic reacting just like Pgh. 17s.  But
within several years, Toronto too had tightened the suspension.
	When I was there in 1971, I requested a shop tour and when I mentioned
this truck to the Shop Guide (one of the cars was over the pits for
inspection) he said it was no different from the others; I insisted it
was.  He was quite surprized upon inspecting the car that the bolster
mount is distinctly different.

	SO--there is hope that the rubber spring bolster on these Clark B-2B
trucks could be restored to the original condition.  THIS  would be
worth travelling to the ends of the earth to ride.

	We are depending on you, John!!

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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