TTC -- PRCo Connection

[John F Bromley]

Sory to inform you but all TTC B2-B trucks were modified to standard in the
1950s, 1960s and 1970s and trucks under 4500-4549 were then just part of the
general pool.  Trucks got moved from car to car commencing as early as 1955.
The authority for this is Ray Corley.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Holland" <pghpcc at pacbell.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 2:09 PM
Subject: TTC -- PRCo Connection


> 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
>     To e-mail privately, please click here: mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
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