[PRCo] Re: 1.>--__PRCo__Track___2.>--Power__Cuts WAS::_{PRC 1711]

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!


Please Note Appropriate Subject Change!


> Fred Schneider wrote:

> The Pittsburgh interurban tracks were quite acceptable
> until the decision was made to abandon the lines.  About
> 1951 or 1952 the company quit maintaining the interurban
> tracks.  By the spring of 1953 track was pretty bad.


	Assume you are referring to trackage south of Simmons and Drake 
--  rest of interurban trackage was in  *decent*  shape until
1960s.    *OFTEN*  rode interurban to top speed where power cut.

	Someone mentioned something about a limit relay or some such
cutting power on the PCCs.

	PRCo 1600s and 1700s both had this feature.    On the 1600s, if
top speed was reached and the power cut it was necessary to
release the power pedal, allow the car to slow a little, and then
reapply the power pedal to get power back.

	On the 1700s, one could keep the power pedal on the floor  -- 
power would cut and reapply automatically.

	It was the PM rush, winter time, about 1960 when Charlie Diehl
had a full load - even standees when we left Washington Jct.
southbound.    We made the stop at Hillcrest and Charlie put it
on the floor - no one wanted off at Lindemer and not long after
passing this stop the power cut.    Charlie kept it on the floor
and power returned near the bridge before the grade crossing
north of Brightwood.    So essentially between Lindemer and
Brightwood we were travelling in excess of 42-mph!!

	Those familiar with the topography here know it is not unlike a
roller coaster  --  good downgrade going thru Lindermere with
similar grade up to Brightwood!


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Waiting for a bus is as thrilling as fishing,
    with the similar tantalisation that something,
        sometime, somehow, will turn up. 
            George Courtauld

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James B. Holland

• Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation....... 
  "O"--Scale St.-Petersburg Trams Company (SPTC)
	Trolleycars and "O"--Scale  Parts
		including Q-Car
	mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net

• Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
	http://www.pa-trolley.org/
• Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),
	1930  --  1950
• N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190;
	http://www.nmra.org

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