[PRCo] Re: West Penn Cars at PTM

[John Swindler]

Thank you, Greg, for your generous offer of $1.2 million (US) to rebuild 
West Penn 739 as an operating car.  When can Ed expect your check??

Sorry about the sarcasm, which will continue, but why would anyone want to 
rebuild West Penn 739 - or several other cars - as operating pieces of 
equipment??  Because anything that is operated is a liability.  It suffers 
continual wear and tear.

How many operating cars are required for a demonstration electric railway???

At one extreme are the advocates of trying to restore everything to 
operating condition.

At the other extreme is a position that everthing at a trolley museum could 
be "stuffed and mounted" exhibits, such as the B&O Museum, for instance, and 
then buy some Gomaco products to provide the demonstration electric railway. 
  I use that last term because PTM is claiming to be a non-profit 
educational organization, and not a club.

A compromise in between may be the best use of available resources and allow 
for the elimination of the greatest number of 'chicken coops' from a 
property.

Just a biased opinion.

John


>From: "Greg King" <tramway at alphalink.com.au>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: West Penn Cars at PTM
>Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 17:59:58 +1100
>
>
>Thanks Ed,
>
>Would it be possible to rebuild 739 with air brakes, I know it's not 
>exactly
>right but it would be better than just stuffed and mounted.
>
>Best wishes
>Greg
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Edward H. Lybarger" <twg at pulsenet.com>
>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 11:53 AM
>Subject: [PRCo] West Penn Cars at PTM
>
>
> >
> > It is unlikely that we will rebuild a 700 with magnetic brakes, though
>they
> > could be fabricated from the drawings on hand.  Such a car would present
>an
> > instruction and operations nightmare in an otherwise air brake fleet (ST
> > sweepers excepted).  So the static exhibit appears the logical way to go
>for
> > 739.  722's major resource is its complete toilet.
> >
> > 832 is basically unchanged in the last 22 years...it's a kit, waiting 
>for
> > skill and money to get interested in it.  If that all came together, it
> > could run with about two years' work.
> >
> > Maybe over the winter I'll open some more drawings; if the 280s appear,
>I'll
> > advise.
> >
> > Ed
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
> > [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of Greg
> > King
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 5:21 PM
> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Johnstown also
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Ed,
> >
> > Thanks, hope you can find a set of the 200's, as for the Spittoons on 
>the
> > 700's, matbe when I get around to building a 700!!! By the way, am I
>correct
> > in recalling someone saying that one of the 700 bodies you have will
> > probably only ever be a static exhibit and the other for parts, that's a
> > shame, whilst I understand the complexities and costs of the 
>restoration,
> > they were such a classic car, they surely deserve to run. At what stage 
>is
> > 832 these days, they were certainly a handsome car too.
> >
> > Thanks again
> > Greg
> >
> > > We have a lot of West Penn drawings in the PTM library, but many have
>not
> > > yet been unrolled.  I can't say whether or not we have this one or 
>not.
> > But
> > > I can tell you all about the spittoons for the 700s!
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>


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