[PRCo] Re: ROUTES 38 and 39/clock headways

[John Swindler]

>Harold Geissenheimer clarified:
>
>
>John
>
>Some background.  When PRC started to reduce service, the number
>of trips operated became important to the PaPUC.  PRC eliminated
>layover as much as possible to squeeze in more trips.  They also put
>cars back to the barn on the schedule to be counted.
>


Yes, John Baxter had mentioned this many years ago about trying to get one 
more trip.  But didn't mention PUC was the cause.  Probably due to his 
perspective.

In Chicago, pull-outs and pull-ins from North Ave. operated along Foster to 
Clark, Broadway, and Sheridan Road.  We were in service from first bus stop 
on Foster.  This provided extra feeder bus service to North-South el (at 
least latter two routes).  Assume we were short turns on Foster St. bus 
schedule (which operated from Forest Glen depot), but service so frequent, 
public schedule not published.

Thus it was a surprise in late 1970s to discover that many of Pennsylvania's 
public transit systems did not provide public service on pull-out and 
pull-in trips.  At least according to the drivers.



>The 49 on a 55 minute headway weekdays as well when PAT took over ruined 
>simple clock headway and required a timetable.  No more passengers were 
>really carried but it was more complicated to use.  And it missed key 
>departure times.  An hourly headway in the afternoon at 05 minutes after 
>the hour leaving downtown works well.  (305, 405, 505, 605PM)PM  A 55 
>minute headway could miss the 505 quitting time (305, 4, 455, 550PM).



I like clock headways.  First became aware of their advantage when using 
British Rail in late 1960s.  It was so much more convenient then what I had 
previously encountered with US train and transit service.

Clock headways also existed in many instances in Pittsburgh, which is why 
can still remember 35/36 Sunday Holiday schedule after all these years.  But 
there were many exceptions.  Too many.


>
>An interesting example on Sundays was Homewood Garage to 74A to 58 
>Greenfield bus to 56 bus (Second Ave) to Mckeesport and return to Homewood. 
>Four hours round trip.  Lunch at Homewood and another round trip. Little or 
>no deadhead time.  A public authority can do an efficient job.
>
>Also clock headways are an accepted norm when you have transfer
>riding and transit centers.
>

Doesn't Edmonton do that a lot???


>
>PAT is still trying better ways.  The thru route from the North Side to the 
>East End is a very good alternative.  I could never sell it to the ex-Pgh 
>Rys personnel.  They were very fixed in their ways. As a private bus 
>operator, they were easy to compete with!
>


I don't envy what you had to deal with, Harold.  On the one hand PAT 
inherited a PRC bureaucracy.  But PAT also inherited 33 (+/-) individual 
entrepreneurs.  Former adversaries had to become part of the same team.  
That's a lot of personalities from both sources.

Someday, Harold, maybe we can talk you into relating who came aboard at PAT, 
and who moved onto other endeavors after 1964.  Suspect you have quite a few 
horror stories.

John



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