[PRCo] Re: Arden Progress

[Boris Cefer]

Only a little?
So, do you want to know what was in that large box in M11?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Schneider" <fschnei at supernet.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 8:10 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Arden Progress


> I'm a little confused.  I know.  I confuse the others too so it is my turn
now.
>
> Boris Cefer wrote:
>
> > Remember PRCo M11. She had the large plexiglass covered box in her
interior
> > and also one smaller plexiglass covered box in front of it. Do you
remember
> > my request regarding that handrail in M11? It was just around that small
box
> > which seemed to show power, brake and field weakening contactors under
the
> > floor. And if you have a question how the accelerator was cooled in such
a
> > small box which would not allow an adequate air flow, then I think I can
> > answer also this question. Do you want to know my theory? You can't
guess!!!
> >
> > Would be interesting to have a glass floor, but it would scratch, yes.
And
> > what about a narrow bridge structure (with grids) along car side above
the
> > glass floor for visitors? They would have to go thru the car on all
fours.
> >
> > B
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Fred Schneider" <fschnei at supernet.com>
> > To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> > Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 4:38 PM
> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Arden Progress
> >
> > > You didn't hear me argue with you.  I'm smiling.
> > >
> > > The engineer in me says grrrrreat.  The museum manager in me says no,
> > because
> > > the public would not understand.  They can recognize complexity, but
not
> > > differences between a B2 and a B3.
> > >
> > > Really, the purpose of a museum is to educate and demonstrate, and if
it
> > works,
> > > good.  The only trolley museum I know of that cut open a car to show
how
> > it was
> > > made was not run by railfans ... it is the city owned operation in
> > Scranton
> > > which took a Birney and carved it up to show the public the different
> > parts.
> > > Someone there must have looked across the street at the steam engine
that
> > was
> > > carved up by the National Park Service to show the same thing.  And
guess
> > what?
> > > The public looks at it and relates to it.  While I'm not supporting
taking
> > a
> > > torch to something really significant like the Derby, Connecticut
freight
> > > locomotive at Branford, I'm certainly not going to take offense at
> > butchering
> > > one of the many New Orleans 800s or Boston Type 5s or PCCs to show how
> > they were
> > > put together.  How about a PCC laying on its side to show its belly?
Or
> > with a
> > > glass floor?  (Would scratch, wouldn't it?)
> > >
> > > I liked the response.  It gives me entertainment.
> > >
> > > Boris Cefer wrote:
> > >
> > > > And what about to make 1613 (its repair isn't sheduled yet) with one
> > half in
> > > > PRCo paint and second half in ugly PAT gray. And front truck B-3 and
> > rear
> > > > B-2. Did I say I'm an engineer? Cheeze whiz!
> > > >
> > > > B
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Fred Schneider" <fschnei at supernet.com>
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > 3.  And what about Pittsburgh Railways 4398?  Justin told me has
to
> > > > > start on it on May 13th.   That will be the car that cannot ever
be
> > > > > restored to one time frame without a great deal of effort and our
own
> > > > > gold mine.  Pittsburgh changed them so much over time that there
may
> > not
> > > > > have been a handful of identical cars by the time they were
scrapped.
> > > > > Some had level floors, some drop center.  Some had center doors
that
> > > > > worked; some had blocked center doors with seats added.  Some had
25
> > hp
> > > > > motors, some 37 hp.  Some went to the scrap yard with Jones
control,
> > > > > some had the Westinghouse copy of GE type M, and others had K-35
> > > > > control.  I would not surprise me if at least one got a K43 out of
a
> > > > > 4100 at some point.  Bells were on the roof, some were under the
> > floor.
> > > > > Some were scrapped as two man cars, some as one man cars.  Brake
> > ratios
> > > > > were changed on some cars.    What a wonderful chance to make a
Jones
> > > > > car on one side and a one-man K car on the other!
> > > > >
> > > > > That out to stir up a little hate mail?
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
>