[PRCo] Rail?!.?!.?!.......

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!



> Fred Schneider wrote:

> Absolutely right Boris.    But there are a few of us
> out there who don't bury our heads in the sand. 
> I accept fact.......
> 	One of worst examples in the US is San Jose.
> 	Baltimore isn't so good either.
>	St. Louis looks good when you look at
>		the number of passengers they haul,
>		but when you are charging the lowest
>		per mile fare in the country,
>		it really isn't all that good.



	I hinted at this in my  Trolley--Fare  column on San Jose in
1988  --  dodging tumble weeds taking photos and homes at least
1/2-mile from the line!    I could not see justification for
light rail.

	BUFFALO  has been discussed here (because I brought it up)  -- 
MUCH  DISCUSSION  --  as a  GOOD--EXAMPLE  of  BAD  rail
transit.    Subject of news commentary in Salt Lake to discredit
building rail there.

	I personally have said we are repeating history in this
regard.    *Trolley--Car--Treasury*  shows a photo of a town sans
trolleycars except on PostCards  --  postcard obviously altered
to suit the Fad!    I have said much of the lrv explosion in the
US is just that  --  FAD  in keeping up with the Smyth's.

	Cincinnati  --  subway partially // nearly built, Never Used in
1930s!    Other examples as well.




ON---THE---OTHER--HAND:::::::


	TrolleyCars  DID  exist.

	I  ENJOYED  TrolleyCars and their  existance in Pgh.  (but ala
above do Not Necessarily support future rail.)



	And since TrolleyCars Did Exist, I enjoy  CELEBRATING  that
Existance (-ence?)  --
	**--	I am  NOT  interested in the warts,
	**--	I am  NOT  interested in the
		public-hatred of trolleycars,
	**--	I am  NOT  interested in whether or not
		the trolleycarss could be justified on
		--**	economic,
		--**	political, or
		--**	other basis  --



THE  *FACT*  remains  --

	**--	the  TROLLEYCAR  Lines Existed  --
	**--	They Were There   --
	**--	I rode TrolleyCars when they provided
		an  EXTREMELY  HIGH  percentage of  ALL
		public transit in Pgh.


I want to

	**--	Celebrate That Existance   ---
	**--	Remember Their Existance Fondly


	I remember TrolleyCars of the past, appreciate the services of
TrolleyCars of the past, have little interest in TrolleyCars of
the present and//or future.    Have oft stated that here.   
STRICTLY   PERSONAL   ---   NOT  comments on merits necessarily.



> We also have some very good schemes ... 
> San Francisco's F line. 


	Signed into that division to operate PCCs on J-line during
conversion of subway signalling.    Threw-up the run and returned
to TrolleyCoaches because I do  NOT  like operating that line.   
Flaky passengers,  HORRIBLE  traffic.    May be working for
passenger count, but slow, tedious, boring.


> Pittsburgh.......


	GOOD  Example of  BAD  Overhead Design  --  MY  opinion is 
({[pat]})  purposely constructed  OOOGLY  Overhead to denigrate
rail transit in hopes of preventing more rail construction.




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Jim

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