[PRCo] Re: Loops

[Harold Geissenheimer]

Greetings

Probably not much land available when Simmons was built.

Operators needed a rest period because of the lack of a terminal and facilities
downtown because of the downtown loop operation.  Depending on the route,
this might mean 2-3 hours in the seat round trip.

A true bit of humor.  At Community Transit, the semior #1 driver was Sam
Barddona.  He started with the Harmony Short Line in 1932.  On Saturdays,
Sam had a run that terminated at the East Hills Shopping Center.  In 1962, this
was a new and nice place. (Not so now).  If there were kids waiting on the
bus and Sam was going to have a Klondike from Isalys, he would bring several
extras back to the kids.  Sam would say he could not drink alone!

Sam lived north of Etna on Rt 8 and was from an old farm family.  Bardonna
Road there has the family name.  Sam used to bring a basket of tomatoes
in season and set them down next to the fare box for the passengers,
One day Sam looked very depressed when I boarded and I asked what
was wrong.  He said one of the passengers took the salt shaker!

Another day, another time.  Sam had zero accidents and liked his
passengers.  In Harmony days, he worked the extra board and took
many charters to New York.  Quite a guy.

Do any of you have pleasant memories of PRC motormen?  Especially
on the interurban.  I remember a nice guy on the Schoenville shuttle.
Any nice stories to share?  I remember one guy who sometimes would stop to
allow a photo or two.

WJBG in Wheeling enjoyed his work and his passengers.  Most of the
motormen on Muni's F Market streetcar also do.  When George Horn
was running a Muni PCC, he had friends up and down the line.

Any experiences?

Harold Gessenheimer



Mark McGuire wrote: