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

[Fred Schneider]

But you should ride the Mattapan - Ashmont cars in Boston.  The chap who was with
me asked if I remembered the PCC "A" and PCC "B" cars from the 1930s.  Then he
called the Boston cars, PCC "D" for degraded or downgraded.  The resilient wheels
are long gone.  The field shunts have been removed, reducing the top speed to
about 23 mph up hill, 26 mph down hill (if the speedometers are correct).   There
also seems to be some sort of a misadjustment problem in the tickling or spotting
coil, so that air brakes come on about half the time ... very little affect from
dynamic brakes.   One might make a case for them not even being PCCs anymore
because they fail to meet the PCC performance specification.

Harold Geissenheimer wrote:

> Greetings to all
>
> The problem is the basic difference between PCC cars and LRV's
>
> PCC cars can do many things that a LRV cant.
> Like shorter dwell times.  Motorman can close doors faster
> tham set times for LRV's.  One passenger boarding a PCC is FAST
>
> Operating characteristics are different also.  PCC cars were designed to
> get over the road.
>
> Ride the Newark City subway...PCC's were a faster ride.
> The motorman was in control of the ship.  Now with LRV's
> the LRV is in control of the motorman..  Bus drivers on the
> Newark subway PCC's could get over the road
>
> Shaker Hights was probably like that also with Breda cars
> replacing PCC cars.
>
> Boston and Phila LRV's operate like streetcars so no problem
>
> In many ways, the PCC remains the finest vehicle of all time.
>
> Harold H Geissenheimer
>
> James B. Holland 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >