[PRCo] Re: Spare trolley poles

[Fred W. Schneider III]

The PCCs had the necessary wrenches.

tsquare wrote:
> 
> You'll have to forgive me on this one as, per FWS3, memory is
> sometimes a fleeting thing -- the following is the best that I
> can recall -- so don't bet the farm on it.  Perhaps Art Ellis
> can input here:
> 
> I don't recall any small tools such as a screwdriver, pliers, etc.
> in the Emergency Tool Sets - just sledge hammers or axes, heavy-duty
> saws, and pry-bars -- these tools were to be used to extricate the
> passengers from the cars in the event of an accident.  In the 3700's
> and 3800's, these kits were mounted on the smoking compartment
> partition in a glass-faced case about 3' long x 9" high x 3" deep
> (my estimate -- time fades the mwmory).  On the 1700's these kits
> were mounted on the advertizing line above the standee windows.  There
> may have been a set of wrenches in the Emergency Set but I doubt it
> as I believe one had to break the glass to get into the Set --
> perhaps there were wrenches elsewhere in or on the car to
> loosen/tighten the bolts ot the base of the trolley pole.
> 
> To complicate the picture somewhat, I vaguely (very Vaguely) recall
> that there may have been two such kits on the 1700's -- diagonally
> opposite each other in the car.
> 
> I don't recall an extra pole on the 3700's 0r 3800's.
> 
> Tom
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
> [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of Bob
> Rathke
> Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2001 11:40 AM
> To: Pittsburgh Trolley List
> Subject: [PRCo] Spare trolley poles
> 
> A few days ago, there were some mentions on this list about the tool kit and
> spare pole on Washington interurban PCCs.
> I'll start a new round of commentary on this line:
> 
> - How common was the incidence of trolley pole damage, and what type of
> damage - a bent pole, a malfunctioning wheel...?
> 
> - Was the chance of such damage greater on the interurban line compared to
> street lines, or was the spare pole carried simply because of the
> remotenesss of the interurban line?
> 
> - And that leads to another question: if an interurban PCC suffered pole
> damage, was the motorman prepared and able to replace it himself?  Is that
> what the tool kit was for?
> 
> Bob 10/20/01