[PRCo] Re: Training__TrolleyCar__Operators

[James B. Holland]

Harold Geissenheimer wrote:

>Greetings
>
>Go back to PRC in the 1950's.  Few bus drivers.  people hired for rail
>Many motormen did not even have a driver's license.  License was
>eventually required to drive a route foreman's truck
>
>Rail network more complex.  How long to train a motorman then?
>
>Interesting question.
>

             I was hired by SF-Muni for TrolleyCar operation.

1.>--    First Day was classroom work.

            Next 3-days:  Classes AM; motor coach afternoon
2.>--                         GM
3.>--                         AMG
4.>--                         Mack

5.>--    GM bus All Day.

6.>--    PCC training and operation of 1023.

7.>--    "   "   "   ""   "   "  Torpedoes 1011 and 1013.

8.>--    AM classes; afternoon obstacle course
                        CandleStick Park, motor coach.

            Next 3-Days  --  PCC training and operation in
9.>---                         1152
10.>--                        1106
11.>--                         1103

12.>--    Classroom All Day


Twelve Days Instruction and Training.


Line Instruction Begins  --  assigned a run to work with veteran  --
       Up To Veteran to determine when and how much I operate.

13.>--    Run 60L,  Ron Bower  --  1152 AM,  1130 afternoon             
          
                   Did most if not all operating.

14.>--    Run 60L, Ron Bower  --  1029 AM,   1130 PM
                   Did most if not all operating.

15.>--    Run 62J, Bob Shines  --  No PCC AM;  1039 PM
                   Did most operating.

16.>--    Run 64J,  Unknown Instructor  --  Cars 1163 and 1156

17.>--    Classroom All Day.

18.>--    12K,  Herb Nelson  --  Cars 1156 and 1111.
                   About 50% operation.

19.>--   12K,  Herb Nelson  --  Cars 1105 and 1135
                   About 50% operation.

20.>--   70L,  Harold Blatch  --  Cars 1007 and 1140
                         Maintain schedule with triple headway
                               in PM with 1140.
                               Did  ALL  operating.

21.>--   70L, Harold Blatch  --  Cars 1156 and 1015.
                         With 1156 I pushed 1039 to yard from
                         Taraval/20th  --  stiff upgrade and 19th-Ave
                         connects 101 GG Bridge to Freeway-280.
                         Several of us hand laid sand on rails.
                         Hal let me do All Operating and *coupling.*
                         Did  ALL  operating.

22.>--   Classroom All Day.

23.>--   19N,  James Albee  --  Cars 1112 and 1023.
                   Did  ALL  operating.

24.>--   19N, James Albee  --  Cars 1109 and 1119.
                   Did  ALL  operating.

25.>--   62L, Fred Barba  --  Cars 1039 and 1023
                   Did  most operating.

26.>--   3/18-Sloat,  Unknown Instructor  --  AMGs  xxxx and xxxx

27.>--   1/81-Bacon,  James Deal  --  GM-3292.


END___Training

Worked All 5 trolleycar lines.       L-line schedules possibly include 
trips on M-Ocean View and did work M-line with Harold Blatch.


28.>--   Very First Day On My Own and my Regular Day Off (RDO)
                   67J  --  GM motor coach 3111.

29.>--   Very First Day On Own with TrolleyCar:
                   18K but worked J  --  don't ask why
                   PCC__1040  --  Last PCC Built in North America.

>hrbran99 at adelphia.net wrote:
>
>How many motormen were fired due to a lack of ability?
>
>I no of no operators fired for a lack of ability. Perhaps some for illegal things (theft, etc) but not lack of ability. Now, in the 21st Century, I see operators fired constantly for lack of ability. They are always young and just do not have the work ethic of older adults.
>

             Seems age is not really a factor    ----    just as many, 
if not more, who are Old Timers who will play games and work to get out 
of same.       We have Many Good Young Drivers.

>.......One could simply change cars....... or you could back into the 38A track when a 42/38 came into the loop and let them by. However, if a 38A car came up the track from Castle Shannon then you had to back into Clearview Loop again. This required a lot of switch throwing, switch pluging, and trolley pole moving. But I have!
>

             The 42-Dormont wye was set up for this!       Regular 
service car would back to McFarland and those returning to the yard 
would wye in front and  *speed*  off.       This was Great Fun To Watch 
in the Very Early 1950s with the old Jones cars and the motormen would 
crank here up to enter the wye, be throwing the reverser as braking, 
would back out at incredible speed and again move the reverser while 
braking and be off and running.       Not At All Unusual for equipment 
to back up all the way down the hill and across Biltmore even to Raleigh 
in the evening rush hour.


Jim__Holland