[PRCo] Re: Pittsburgh B-3 truck

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!


> Pepa Kalousek wrote:

> I have checked some 1949 - 1953 photos of 1700
> interurbans on the net, but can't see any shocks.
> Many photos are exposed so that the trucks aren't
> visible.


	This is a common problem with PRCo photos  --  may be due to the
film-type used in those days  --  with wide-gauge trucks one
would think they would be more visible.    The most visible
trucks in photos on PCCs have been the LARy narrow-gauge cars 
--  go figger!

	Look very closely in the URL below and you shall see the shock
mount right at the bottom of the spring pot.    I do have Much
Better Photos which shall come later  --  please see comments
below.

http://davesrailpix.railfan.net/pitts/jpg/pitt156.jpg


	The URL below shows one set of the B3 experimental trucks under
1225  --  most literature says that 1230 and 1278 (Westinghouse
and GE respectively) were so fitted but trucks are swapped out to
change tires etc.    These experimental trucks eventually wound
up under 1613 and 1614.
	These trucks are featured on pgs.132-133 of Fred's  *PCC Car
That Fought Back*  revealing the double spring pot.    And when
used under the 1200s, they had wheel tread brake shoes  --  ALL
the 16s had drum brakes and were delivered that way.
	ALL  PRCo  PCCs were delivered with wheel tread brake shoes 
EXCEPT  1600 and 1700 series.    The 1600s have many feataures in
common with the 1700s, both electrically // mechanically and
cosmetically, other than the big difference of air vs.
All-Electric.    Both 16s and 17s had extended range dynamics
which fade at 0.75-mph rather than the 3.0-mph typical of
air-cars, and both had drum brakes.    Molding on the 16s,
especially at the floor line, are identical to that of the 17s
and distinctly different from the other air-cars.    The 16s were
quite peppy cars  --  seemed to be the peppiest on the property 
--  not necessarily an objective assessment.
	The 1100s were smooth operating cars but didn't seem to have the
pep of the 16s.    The 12s were controversial  --  apparently the
wheel tread brakes were spring applied, air released which is
unusual for air-cars.    Scared the daylights out of motormen as
they would roll back when braking on upgrades!    This was the
first series where drums were retrofitted, but not to all
cars.    Same for 14s and 15s  --  some received drums.

http://davesrailpix.railfan.net/pitts/htm/jfp073.htm


> Do you have any photos of B-3??? (except of those
> in Fred's Car That Fought Back)

> Boris


	Yes, I do.    Have some photos which are much better.    Have
already thought about sending you some samples.    Technically on
vacation now  --  in the area with very limited computer /
internet access.    Place is in a shambles and I have  M-U-C-H 
to catch up on, but shall get some scans to you.    Have one of
1613 on the Castle Shannon loop which clearly shows the shocks.
	And as Fred mentioned, the Be on pg.135, top photo, closely
resembles tht of PRCo - biggest difference is use of standard
resilient wheel with one large nut over the axle.
	Incidentally, ALL 17s use WAB solenoids to actuate the drums,
even the GE cars 1775--1799, so the actuator in the photo on
pg.135 was used on all 17s.

	Just out of curiosity, what is your source for your pre-1953
photos?


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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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