[PRCo] Re: A Change in Scenery, MBTA PCCs, etc.

[Fred W. Schneider III]

Certainly. 

John Swindler wrote:
> 
> >Fred W. Schneider III commented:
> >
> >
> >It is a little late to find anyone to answer these questions ...
> >
> >But it might be possible that St. Louis Car had sufficient orders of
> >standard PCCs that they didn't need to bother engineering deviants, and
> >P-S needed work to stay in business and therefore was willing to spend
> >the time and dollars to engineer changes for small lots of cars.  St.
> >Louis built the 83 long cars for Chicago in 1936 -- but it was a large
> >order and it would be a lot easier to design a lengthened real platform
> >than to move everything under the car to fit in a left door.  When
> >Pullman built the 20 cars for Boston, St. Louis had a full order book of
> >standard PCCs and Pullman had zip.  Note also that Pullman not only
> >built the first left door cars but also the first MU cars (I imagine the
> >platform framing had to be heavier to accommodate the coupler), and the
> >first and second orders of double-end cars.
> >
> 
> Looks like Pullman-Standard received their first PCC orders in 1939 for 41
> cars for Baltimore and Cincinnati.  Next orders occurred in late 1940 for
> PE's 30 cars, followed in 1941 by 20 for Boston and 133 for Baltimore (if
> math and eyesight ok).  The Boston wartime cars were not built until 1944,
> and would be hard pressed to think of any company with an empty order book
> in that year.  So suspect we were wrong on that account.  Still would not be
> surprised if local politics did not play a hand in directing Boston orders
> to the Pullman plant in nearby Worcester.
> 
> By the way, what was the original question????  Because really don't care
> all that much about Boston history.  Enough problems with just the Keystone
> state.
> 
> Speaking of history, you wouldn't be interested in copy of PUC decision on
> Columbia and Lititz conversions??
> 
> John
> 
> >John Swindler wrote:
> > >
> > > Suspect you just answered why 3001 was scrapped several years before
> >last of
> > > the Type 5s were removed from service.  Had nothing to do with
> >manufacturer.
> > >   And electrically, MTA/BERy bought both GE and Westinghouse cars.
> >However,
> > > 3001 and no left door.
> > >
> > > Likewise, why subsequent orders from Pullman instead of St. Louis??
> >Keep
> > > the plant down the road in Worcester in business.  And that would keep
> >the
> > > local politicians happy.
> > >
> > > As for the MBTA's PCC overhaul programs, you really don't want to know
> >the
> > > sordid details (recently received from an engineer assigned to oversee
> >the
> > > project).  Could be best characterized as politics, and lack of internal
> > > controls.  Cost was over $600,000 for some of the cars (at least that is
> > > what the records would show) at time when SEPTA was spending $112,000
> >per
> > > GOH car.
> > >
> > > John
> > >
> > > >From: ROGERTROLLY at webtv.net (ROGER Jenkins)
> > > >Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> > > >To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> > > >Subject: [PRCo] Re: A Change in Scenery, MBTA PCCs, etc.
> > > >Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 22:16:07 -0700 (PDT)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Only car that didn't have a left hand door was the 3001 ,ST LOUIS CAR
> > > >CO.diverted from Brooklyn order. All the rest , BUILT BY PULLMAN IN
> > > >WORCESTER MASS.had left hand doors , My info on the cars problem and
> > > >disposition was derived from personal records that dont seem to jell
> > > >with other facts . Your right Greg , they are unique being air cars and
> > > >built by Pullman . Pacific Electric DBL enders were also built in
> > > >Worcester by Pullman . The first dbl ended PCCs !!
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
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