Missing Blocks of Car Numbers

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

> John Swindler wrote:

> The group numbers is interesting, but would that have come later?
> Otherwise, the 3750s would have a much higher, rather then next consecutive,
> group number from the 3700s.  Again, a later bookkeeping entry???  Anything
> further on group numbers???

	Interesting points, John!  And I am actually wondering the *source* of
the Group Numbers - is it PRCo or someone after the fact?  Each Group
carries vital statistics as to car description, length, weight, builder,
trucks control etc and the date of delivery and date and method of
disposition.  In the case of the PCCs, the date placed into service is
also included!
	It does sound like the Group numbers are after the fact because there
is no way to explain consistent Group numbers through the interurbans
with such a wide gap in purchase dates and many city cars purchased
between 3700s and 3750s.

	But in 1910, if PRCo has just completed the Washington interurban, the
Charleroi has been running for a while, Overbrook is coming or is
already on line, and new interurban cars have arrived, the prospect for
more interurbans at this points seems reasonable.  Additionally, the
Charleroi line was double tracked from Castle Shannon to past
Finleyville - remember our discussions on this list about that?  So the
future appeared bright for the interurbans and esp. at a time when the
only other significant transport was horse and buggy.  And technically,
3-more groups of interurbans were actually purchased - 1)--37s; 
2)--38s;  3)--3750s.  Otherwise, why jump from 3600 to 4000 and leave
the blanks?  There is some forethought to the future.
	And there are many ways in which we can see the consistency of PRCo and
their methods.  Their paint schemes have been simple and straight
forward and amazingly consistent up through the early 1950s.  Tuscan Red
with Gold and Yellow Trim until about 1925.  Mellow Orange with black
trim 1925--forward for all low-floors.  PCCs amazingly consistent and
paint scheme and appointments interrupted only because of WW2 with the
17s the ONLY variation in paint schemes!
	Amazingly consistent in track maintenance of turnouts and their removal
when they had served their usefulness.  Reading thru old  *Trolley
Fares*  and PERC would run a fan trip over a route to be abandoned and
within days the special work to that route was removed!  This happened
repeatedly!
	Their car maintenance methods were meticulous to the point of being
fanatic.  While other systems disliked GE PCCs because the MG set had to
be removed to be trued, PRCo built a portable lathe that was taken to
the car and somehow attached to do the work there!  See the PCC books!
	Car numbers are not all that insignificant to the agencies as they are
a way of identifying the car to keep maintenance records.  Thus, they
are more than simple book keeping entries.  And the shop people know the
personalities of many of the different individual cars - by car number!
	There are too many consistencies in the life of PRCo to think that they
would not use some system of car numbering, even if it seems elusive to
us.  And it thus does not seem unlikely that they would leave a block of
numbers for *potential* interurbans.

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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