[PRCo] Re: Milano

[Fred Schneider]

Some of the most difficult operation I've ever experienced with straight air (manual lap) that I've ever watched was in Lisbon, Portugal.  My best estimate is that it probably takes 15,000 to 20,000 miles to make a motorman in that environment ... not the 30 days it might have taken here.   Virtually every person I watched, would start a car by releasing air and pulling power simultaneously, and then immediately making a very light brake application and lapping just to keep the brake shoes just barely on the wheels.  These motormen had to be able to run 20 feet or
less from the bumper of the automobile ahead of them, or some other motorist would fill the space.  And they had to be able to stop in the minuscule amount of space they allotted for stopping.   And, damn it, they did it.

I was in Lisbon with a friend whose tongue proved to be a loose cannon.  As an old Baltimore Transit operator, he felt compelled to critique the Lisbon car operator.  I was trying to use hand signals to tell him to keep his opinions to himself.  (In countries with minority languages, such as Holland, Portugal, and the Scandinavian nations, English is very commonly spoken as the other language they use when traveling.)
My friend could not be discouraged.  You all know what is coming next, don't you.  After about two miles, the operator turned around.  She looked my friend squarely in the eye and asked, "Do I meet your expectations, Sir?"

This woman had had six months on the cars and was still a little rough around the edges by Lisbon standards but she could have run circles around any American operator I've ever met.

You know I like to keep up on all the new developments in the world, but I still will recommend that you take the time to travel to Lisbon.  Brill (or Brill knock off) semi convertibles with new motors, compressors, trucks.  You can only imagine a four-wheel semi dashing along at 40 miles per hour on a cushion of rubber springs.  You have to see to believe.  (And the fish dinners are great too.)

Greg King wrote:

> Hi Pete,
>
> Well today I became an italian Motorman by proxy, as I metioned to you of list, the museum of imigration is holding "imigration day" on Sunday and the Sydney Museum's Milano Peter Witt car is being run for 6 hours around the city circle and I'm the motorman ( I have manual lap qualifications etc), today I went to the shops an picked her up and ran her to Southbank where she will be serviced and I will run it from there from 10-4 on Sunday before taking her back to the workshops afterwards.
>
> I must admit, I was a bit nervous at first, there is a lot riding on this for future things but, after a couple of stops for lights and the amazing traffic congestion due to the complete rebuild on Brunswick st/Victoria Parade Junction into three tracks, I was back on the ball and it was an absolute joy to drive, the sounds, the smells the feel of the car was just wonderfull, I'm still on a high several hours after the event.
>
> Everything was where I remebered it to be from when I was in Milano in 1996 (with a little prompting of Peter, many thanks mate) and the only real difference since being double ended (apart from the obvious) was that the compressor switch had been moved to the #2 end. I have driven many K35 controllers (for years that's about all I drove) but never any as smooth and "blister" free as these. truly a superb car, I love it to peices and I'm treating it like the gold it is. Pictures have been taken and Ihave a friend who will be taking videos on Sunday, more anon.
>
> Then to get the news I am to be handling all the W training from now on at Yarra was just fantastic news.
-- Trailing quotes stripped by Listar --