[PRCo] Air

[Bob Rathke]

On Public Radio's "Car Talk" a couple of weeks ago, they explained why gas
mileage is better when you close the windows and use the air conditioner
instead of opening the windows and turning off the AC.  The reason - at
speed, there's less drag on the car with the windows closed.

Bob 7/13/04

-----------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harold Geissenheimer" <transitmgr2 at earthlink.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 10:00 AM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: How 'bout Philadephia (and Pittsburgh) from Thirty Years
Ago?


> Greetings to all
> I understood the goals of the fans and sealed windows but
> never liked the result.  The goal was to cool by changing
> and circulating the air.  As a passenger, forget it.
>
> Also the small windows and the metal strip below the
> standee windows was to eliminate the need for shades
> to keep the sun out.  Some PCC's first had shades.
>
> This was one of my reasons for rehabbing the 1600's.
> Windows opened and were large to see things
>
> I do not believe the small windows (with or without fans)
> were improvements,   The Boston picture window cars
> were better but suffered frim other problems.
>
> Too bad AC was not ready for streetcars.
>
> But saying that, I am not an AC enthusiast.  In my car, I
> usually travel with AC off and windows open even when
> very hot.  Obviously some people like AC...this has hurt
> ETB's in Phila so SEPTA had been substituting AC buses.
>
> Harold Geissenheimer
RR