[PRCo] Re: Pathetic!!!!!!!

[Mark McGuire]

  Memorial Hall Station is a short distance outbound of the old Linden
Grove Stop. Where the old Castle Shannon Municiple Building was
located is now called Willow Station, for the road which runs parallel
at that point.
 Would love to go back in the fall, but right now it doesn't look
good. 

                    Mark

-- "James B. Holland" <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com> wrote:
Hi Mark!


             Very Interesting Observations.

             Looking at schedule closer and lrvs take 24-minutes Castle 
Shannon to downtown while PCC Interurbans took 25-minutes for same 
distance, assuming Memorial Hall Station on lrv schedule is one and same 
Castle Shannon Admin Bldg. and 37-Shannon loop.       Still an Excellent 
Showing for the PCC with Much More Congestion to deal with.        The 
big Killer of Schedules is slowing // dwell at stops // acceleration but 
I would think that with many fewer stops and a sustained speed of 30-mph 
would produce better schedules.       PCCs had top speed of 42-mph and 
may have approached 40-mph on occasion but rarely hit 42-mph unless 
running late and thus in a hurry.

             From Library to Castle Shannon the lrvs take 23-minutes and 
the PCC Interurbans took 16-minutes  --  this is the portion of the line 
which remains relatively the same and yet tremendous disparity in 
schedule times.       Maybe it is slow braking // acceleration.       
Were any stops eliminated in the outer portion of the Library line?

             PCCs have The Big Advantage of greater acceleration and 
braking  --  lrvs slower in this regard.       Will be interesting to 
see how both portions of the schedule changes post-September.       You 
indicated that you shall return this Fall so I am looking forward to 
your observations at that time.


Jim



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[PRCo] Re: Pathetic!!!!!!!
Date: 	Sun, 18 Jul 2004 20:10:53 GMT
From: 	Mark McGuire <macmarka at netzero.net>
Reply-To: 	pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
To: 	pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org



When we explored Overbrook in June, we noticed the speed limit signs of 
30 MPH. A motorman explained to us that this is rather slow and that 
once the old LRVs are sent to rehab and the new LRVs and rehabbed LRVs 
are back, they will be able to go 50MPH. I'm sure there will be a 
tremendous difference once this company in Spain(can't remember the name 
off hand) gets their duffs in gear and the unrehabbed LRVs are all gone. 
Can't have a new car going 50 when a slower older car is doing 30.

I was going to send you a schedule, but seems you already have one.

These were very hard to come by. The new cars did not even have slots to 
keep schedules(timetables) in. This schedule will only be in effect a 
short time. The 42S line will eventually become 47S, also running 
through Overbrook. I have heard that September the changes will be in 
effect. The 42 line will then only run to Castle Shannon, and be 
referred to as 42C. Just like the old days!    I have a couple extra 42S 
and 47L timetables dated 6/6/2004.

If anyone that lives outside of Pittsburgh is interested, I'll be happy 
to mail you one.

Mark

-- "James B. Holland" <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com> wrote:
Hi Gang!


Sitting in front of me is a schedule for 42S South Hills Village (SHV) 
and 47L Library Via Overbrook dated 2004.06.06.

The 47 Library lrv now uses its original but upgraded route along 
Route_88 and Saw Mill Run. It is important to note that the 5-sections 
of single track and four passing sidings are totally eliminated and the 
route is completely double track. And Most of the Car Stops through this 
section have been eliminated, the route realigned for greater speed, and 
a grade crossing was eliminated as well.

The first 7 inbound trains from Simmons in Library, 4.39-AM through and 
including 5.39-AM take **41-minutes** for the One-Way trip Monday 
through Friday. From 5.45-AM through and including 1.01-PM the running 
time inbound is **47-minutes.** And from 1.27-PM through and including 
the last inbound trip at 11.37-PM, all trips are scheduled for 
**41-minutes.**

The first 5 outbound trips from downtown to Library weekdays, 5.03-AM  
through and including 6.20-AM, the running time is **40-minutes.**      
 From 6.32-AM through and including 7.48-PM, the running time outbound 
is **44-minutes.** And from 8.08-PM through and including the last 
complete outbound trip at 12.18-AM the running time again is **40-minutes.**


The running time for the PCCs on 1957.10.14 was about **44- 45-minutes** 
each way while the standard running time in 1964 was **41-minutes each 
way.** Note that rush hour times would be longer.

Also interesting to note that travel time from South Hills Junction 
(SHJ) for present day lrvs is **10-minutes-Inbound** and 
**9--minutes-Outbound.** PCC travel times in 1964 were **11-minutes** 
each way between SHJ and Grant/Liberty. AND PCCs traveled the tunnel 
which carried 8-TrolleyCar lines, and Smithfield Bridge which carried 
10-TrolleyCar Lines and then shared city streets with all kinds of 
vehicle traffic and 4-TrolleyCar lines inbound on Grand and 5-TrolleyCar 
lines outbound Liberty and Wood.

Seems the PCCs did One Fantastic Job and the lrvs cannot even begin to 
compete even with a tremendous reduction in stops, realignment of route, 
elimination of single track and passing sidings, and elimination of a 
grade crossing!


Jim__Holland