[PRCo] Re: West PENN 700's WE HAVE

[Edward H. Lybarger]

I think that may have been some gobbeldygook that someone issued in lieu of
knowing the facts.  I certainly don't know the facts, but I know that when I
started coming to the museum, back when the earth was still warm, the
"official" line was that 722 would be rebuilt with air brakes.

We have sufficient West Penn mechanical drawings to fabricate just about any
part for these cars, but a problem lies in that we have only one controller.
Fortunately, our thinking has matured sufficiently that we recognize that
not every car has to run, and it is our immediate intent to display 739 with
a great looking exterior paint job in the new visitor center.  Further
restoration, including a decision of whether or not to make the car
operable, will probably be the responsibility of another generation of
museum staff.

While I personally would love to ride in one of the 700s, I'm too much of a
realist to suggest that project in the face of all we have to do in the next
couple decades.  A non-operating example on display will work just fine.
And there is no finite plan yet for what's next after West Penn 832 is done,
which will happen after 4398 is finished, which will begin as soon as 14 is
out in June.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of
rogertrolley.1 at juno.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:32 AM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] West PENN 700's WE HAVE



I had asked a technical question when I was back there once about the
possibility of putting air-brakes on these cars instead of hunting for
non-existant electric track brakes that these cars were originally equiped
with. I was told the superstructure of these cars would not take the weight
or thrust of air brake equipment as they havent got strong enough frames or
mainframe ??? Monongehela West Penn had the same type car operating there
with airbrakes.(I think thats what they had) Is this a fact(about the
frames???) or were the cars built identical to each other (since West Penn
built some ) ????    curious rogertrolley