Missing Blocks of Car Numbers

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

> Fred W. Schneider III wrote:

> Pardon me, but many of you are looking at this whole issue like
> railfans, which tends to explain why transit companies did not care to
> employ fans.  It has turned into a large mountain versus an ant hill
> issue.

	Nothing wrong with looking at this as railfans - and do you have proof
that railways don't want to hire  *fans??*  Haven't heard that here!
	There are fanatic railfans which might give a bad image.....
		but then there are fanatic.....
			professors,
			doctors
			lawyers
			accountants
			nurses
			drivers
			passengers
			pedestrians
			pilots
			miners
				etc.
					etc.
						etc...........
							ad--infinitum

> Numbers are there so the "operator knows which piece of metal to take
> out of the yard."  [etc., cut, snip].......

	Yes - this has been mentioned.  I said that numbers are needed so
mechanics can know which car to repair and to maintain a maintenance
record.  This certainly implies there is an infinite number of other
reasons.......in addition to separation of equipment by type and use.

> Cars numbers are sometimes grouped so that similar cars
> are together but even in Pittsburgh, not always true.

	In this  GROSSLY  imperfect world, there shall usually--always be
exceptions to any  General  Rule!!

	NO  ONE  ever made any of the claims below:::::::

> Numbers were never put there so Charlie Dengler would know which cars he
> didn't photograph.
> Numbers were never painted on cars so that the excessive compulsives
> would be able to list every car they had ridden.
> Numbers were not put on cars to induce railfans to question why.

	This is an area of interest for some people  --  Tom has found it
fascinating and he has enjoyed the thoughts and discussions.  John had
made some good observations and brings a unique perspective.  It is
definitely pertinent to the list and not any more nor less important
than any other  PRCo--JTC--WP  discussion but just a part of the whole.

	Get a topic started on changing out motors so others can chime in!!

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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