3750s etc.

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

        You make some excellent points, Tom; guess a good case can be
made for
either side.
        Seems the numbering of 3750--3769 was decided upon because of
the
original  *intention*  for the cars as Charleroi interurbans.  Trucks
were similar and geared for higher speed as compared to the city
low-floor cars.  And the body style was  *similar*  except for the doors
and roof.

	Looking back as railfans we tend to expect an extremely  cut--and--dry
system for whatever:  car numbering, painting details, control systems,
etc.  The Reality is that everything is open to modification, testing,
enhancements, etc. so there will be some variation to the numbering
system, controls, motors, etc.  Still, in spite of this, I think that
PRCo is amazingly consistent in its operations practices, even
numbering!
	And when the PCCs arrived and were used for interurbans, they
maintained their original numbers (16s), and the 17-series was simply
divided between interurban and city  *use*  cars.  I say  USE  because
it can hardly be said that the 1700--1724 series were interurban cars
beyond the definition that they did travel between 2-cities.  The
17-interurbans certainly had different equipment and appointments but
that didn't enhance their speed nor operation!  Other cities used 
*many*  all-electric PCCs with B-3 trucks as regular city cars - JTC,
Detroit, Chicago, and SF and this is the only big difference between the
city and interurban cars!

	While it can be claimed that PRCo PCC interurbans were hardly
interurbans in the classic sense like North Shore, Pacific Electric,
C&LE, etc., there are many cases of pre-PCC city equipment being used
for interurban service.  West Penn would be a good example - outside of
the 700s, the other equipment was essentially city cars used for
interurban service.  Many New England systems would be similar and even
the Atlanta interurbans come to mind.
	The Hocking-Sunday Creek Traction Company between Athens and
Nelsonville, OH, operates what looks like Philly nearside cars on their
interurban system.
	The San Mateo interurban of Market Street Rwy had a separate class of
cars but otherwise they looked like regular city cars and didn't have
performance characteristics above and beyond city cars which would
really set them apart!

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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