[PRCo] Re: training motormen

[James B. Holland]

Fred Schneider wrote:

>How many failed may be a lot easier to answer than how many were simply
>marginal.
>
>Rolling back on hills might only be a problem with a 1700 because the brake
>release was virtually instantaneous ... because they were released using
>(electric) solenoids in the drum brake actuator,....  I think that Jim
>Holland would testify that San Francisco Municipal Railway motormen favored all
>electric cars with front door interlocks on the brakes ...
>

             After the Magic Carpets were retired, all the PCCs were 
All-Electric.       All equipment had All Door Interlocks.       On the 
Baby Tens it was possible to turn the interlock off for the front doors 
on the operators dash control  --  if the interlock was turned off then 
it was necessary to activate the center doors separately.       Center 
doors open would engage the interlock.

             I personally preferred the Baby Tens for that reason  (plus 
Many Others)  and ran with the interlock off.       Never had a problem 
rolling back on the hills and never spun the wheels making a start on 
the hills.       Did have to be fast relasing the brake and hitting the 
power but Did It Many Times.

             On my weekend N-Judah runs I usually got a Baby Ten and 
needed it with interlock shut off to maintain schedules.      Out of the 
barn before 5-AM, I still remember that my first four trips had 3-, 3-, 
6-, 9-minutes layover at Ocean Beach Only If I made it on time.       
And on the 4th trip I still had early morning running time but picked up 
a full standing load to downtown.       When I arrived at Sunset Tunnel 
it was Literally Power On The Floor ALL the Way Down Grade to the other 
end and only hit the brake at the last possible moment.       Always 
needed to get to Church // Duboce on time or a minute up to make sure a 
tunnel (Twin Peaks, that is) didn't get in front because their running 
time was more relaxed.       It was Very High Tension out there!

>He said it took several weeks to make a bus driver.  But
>six months to make a bus operator.  The latter, in John's find, was someone who
>could maintain a schedule day after day with seeming no effort.  He was the man
>who knew that you pulled into a stop with the butt end of the coach hanging out
>in traffic ...
>

             This is basically true of any job    ----    degree may say 
Doctor of Medicine but it still takes time to really know the job.

             Totally Illegal to put the front of the bus at the curb and 
leave the back end hanging out.       Even though the bus is completely 
stopped, doors are open and passengers entering // exiting, 4-way 
flashers flashing  --  If Another Vehicle Hits Said Bus the Bus Driver 
is (also) charged with an accident by the employer.       Very Standard 
Practice among Professional Drivers to stop  PARALLEL  to the curb  --  
1-foot out -- 2-feet out  --  3-feet out, but Not Front In And Rear Out.

> you opened the front door for one passenger, simultaneously hit
>the left turn signal, closed the door as her left food was on the stop, and
>pulled away from the curve ... the rear of the bus all the while protecting you
>from traffic sweeping around the bus that would be holding you up at the next
>traffic light.  Thank about it.  There are a lot of things that make a good
>operator which you cannot teach in classes because they are not politically
>correct.
>

             No No No!       Bus Zones are for buses to be in to allow 
other traffic to pass.       The above goes beyond politically correct.

             Most of it is in operation of the doors  --  getting them 
closed and moving on.

             I was still in training and operating a revenue car (those 
decrepit San Francisco PCCs which were criminally neglected on 
maintenance) and at the end of the day the motorman I operated for wrote 
on my trainee form:    """Able to maintain a schedule on a triple 
headway."""       First I knew I had 2-TrolleyCars missing in front of 
me.       I attribute that to being a railfan, knowing my equipment, 
AND  having the good fortune to work with Ron Bower first who taught me 
about using the doors properly.


Jim__Holland