[PRCo] Re: PCC in Holland

[John F Bromley]

One should always broaden one's horizons.

HTM wrote the book on fast operation (for Holland, in any event), especially
on those huge sweeping curves around most corners.  You've never felt fast
operation until, riding the 2nd car of a two-car PCC train (or the rear end
of an 8-axle artic), you're swept around a 90-dregree corner and the
operator has "forgotten" the length of his charge.  The fastest city
operation I ever rode was Cologne Lines 6/9/12 to the north (mine was a 9
two-car train of those great wide 1960s Duewags that are now being sold to
Konya in Turkey).   They come ripping up the U-bahn ramp and plunge down a
narrow street, hardly wider than the double track, at 45 knots (or so it
seems).  The buildings seem to be nothing more than a blur.  Our good
friends in Germany generally know how to keep to schedule, few of which cut
any slack.

Some Milan Witts also have keen operators and they sound great as well while
trying to break the sound barrier.  None of that namby-pamby Muni-style Witt
operation (sorry, Jim).  Milanese sounds are well enhanced by those great
banging double switch points, especially in a canyon-style street after 8 PM
when no one is about.  Wicked!!!  My wife Margaret took some great video
there on our 1989 trip that still brings high compliments whenever viewed
(while I get to concentrate on slides - great teamwork).

Enough prattling on.
JFB



----- Original Message -----
From: "John Swindler" <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Cc: <jmay at americomm-dm.com>
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2001 3:27 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PCC in Holland


>
>
> I was under impression that Pittsburgh ran their PCC cars fairly fast.
Then
> I visited The Hague and found out what the real performace capability was
of
> a PCC car.
>
> By the way, I owe you and Jack May thanks for steering my horizons beyond
> North America.
>
> John
>
>
> >From: "John F Bromley" <johnfbromley at home.com>
> >Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> >Subject: [PRCo] Re: PCC in Holland
> >Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 14:57:17 -0400
> >
> >
> >Some of the HTM 3000s run on older trucks, some on new (both groups in
> >solid
> >blocks).  When riding the cars you can't tell the difference, especially
on
> >the 8 line once it hits the right of way south of Scheveningen.   Almost
> >dead silent.
> >
> >JFB
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Fred W. Schneider III" <fschnei at supernet.com>
> >To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> >Sent: Friday, May 25, 2001 10:53 AM
> >Subject: [PRCo] Re: PCC in Holland
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Lodging and meals in Tatra territory can be much cheaper than in
western
> > > Europe....
> > >
> > > John Swindler wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >John F Bromley replied
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >There are no Tatras in the Hague.  Their PCC articulated cars (they
> >all
> > > > >have standard PCC trucks and controls) were built by BN (Bombardier
> >now),
> > > > >as were the original PCCs.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Didn't the 3000 series in The Hague use parts salvaged from 1100,
1200
> >and
> > > > 1300 series cars, such as trucks and motors?  Sort of along the
lines
> >of
> > > > what CTA did to create the 6000 series PCC rapid transit cars (but
not
> > > > 6000-6199 which were all new material).  The controls on the 3000
may
> >be
> >new
> > > > (solid-state?), but sure does look like old B-2 or B-3 trucks
> >underneath.
> > > >
> > > > Instead of Holland, those suffering from PCC withdrawal might
consider
> > > > Belgium.  Greatly enjoyed riding 4-axle PCC cars to get about Ghent
> >and
> > > > Antwerp last month. (and when was the last time anyone on this list
> >rode
> >a
> > > > PCC streetcar to Hoboken?)  Not so impressed with  articulated PCC
> >cars
> >in
> > > > Brussels.  By the way, air fare is about the same from northeast,
but
> >it
> >was
> > > > considerably cheaper for lodging and to travel about Belgium as
> >compared
> > > > with California.
> > > >
> > > > John
> > > >
> > > > >----- Original Message -----
> > > > >From: <AProchek at aol.com>
> > > > >To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> > > > >Sent: Friday, May 25, 2001 12:38 AM
> > > > >Subject: [PRCo] PCC in Holland
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I was in The Hauge this week (they still have an extensive
> >streetcar
> > > > >system)
> > > > > > and a PCC went by.... it was called the "Party Trolley" or
"Party
> >Tram"
> > > > >and
> > > > > > done up in a triple treat/Mod desire kind of scheme.  This one
> >must
> >have
> > > > >been
> > > > > > a special charter streetcar as all the other streetcars I saw
were
> >three
> > > > >unit
> > > > > > Tatras.  It looked remarkably unmolested except for the
pantograph
> >-
> >a
> > > > >stock
> > > > > > post war all-electric.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Those of you missing Pittsburgh Railways system may find
Holland's
> > > > >strangely
> > > > > > familiar, except for the Tatras.  Unlike the Light Rail system,
> >they
> > > > >seem
> > > > >to
> > > > > > feel that a little grass between the rails adds to the charm (in
> >fact,
> > > > >in
> > > > >the
> > > > > > private right of ways its nothing but grass and rails) and the
> >line
> > > > >poles
> > > > >are
> > > > > > relatively small, painted olive which blends into the
> >surroundings.
> > > > >minimal
> > > > > > overhead clutter. nice.
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > _________________________________________________________________
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> >
> >
>
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