3750s etc.

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	Never took the comments as critical of PRCo nor anyone - but it is
interesting to conjecture as to reasons!

> Tom Phillips wrote:

> Hi Jim:

> But what has always puzzled me is the numbering of the 3750's --
> why start in the middle of the 3700 series?

	How about this for a possible reason??::  Although almost identical to
other low-floors by appearance, their  *purpose*  was for interurban
service and the cars they then most resembled would be the 3700--3714
series.  Andd since they appear different than the 3700--3714 cars, they
could not be numbered consecutively!

	PRCo pretty much segregated different classes of cars with different
numbers.  Other systems, like Boston, would pick up with the next
available number for another series  --  i.e., MBTA 3196 is an
air-electric PCC, 3197 thru and including 3221 are ALL-electric PCCs,
and then 3222--3346 are AIR-electrics again.  And the last 25-cars in
this group are double end while all other Boston PCCs are single end!

> And, also, the one-of-a-kind 3554(?) -- it obviously
> was an add-on to an existing group of cars.

	I don't know anything about this car.
	O-R  do you mean 3556?
	O-R  3555?

> Another thing that always bugged me was the paint:  3554(?),
> 3700's, and 3800's were red -- the 3750's yellow (were they
> always so? -- I don't know).

	While geared for interurban service, appointed for interurban service
(lavatory, seats), and initially assigned to interurban service, it
seems that the Genes of the low-floor cars predominated in color
choice!  Maybe that explains the following!
===============================================
	A Chinese couple named Wong had a new baby.
The nurse brings them over a lovely, healthy, bouncy,
	-->--definitely Caucasian, white baby  boy!--<<--

	"Congratulations," says the nurse to the new parents.
		"What will you name the baby?"

The puzzled father looks at his new baby boy and says,
	"Well, two Wong's don't make a white,
		so I think we'd better name him Sum Ting Wong."
===============================================

> What color were the 3600's?

	First Guess:	Maroon
	Second Guess:	Green

> The 3600's preceded 3554(?) by several years -- again a play with
> numbering -- should the 3554(?) have been numbered 3650?

	3551--3554 were the ex-Canonsburg-Washington interurbans so they easily
pre-dated the 36s.
	3555 is listed as 1912.
	3556 is listed as 1910 which is the same as  *one--source*  indicates
for the 3600s.

	I have seen reference to 3556 as being the prototype low-floor car  -- 
but don't know why.  3556 does not look as low-floor as the other 1,000+
low-floors.  Additionally, trailers of low-floors already existed, Yes? 
I think of the prototype for the low-floors being the trailers and then
those motorized, A217 and 3-others, for independent operation.
	The 3556 as built is a striking looking car with only a motorman's door
with ladder up front and that super-pointed pilot!

> Jim this excercise has been fun and purely one of speculation --
> another fascinating aspect to this hobby.

> Tom

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/