[PRCo] Re: Arden Progress

[Fred Schneider]

I would have had to be inverted in order to allow anyone to watch it rotate.

John Swindler wrote:

> Wasn't the Westinghouse controller inverted so that its operation would be
> visible inside the box for benefit of new motormen?  I only remember the
> large box by center doors.
>
> Unfortunately, was only around 14 when there was a fantrip using the
> instruction car, M11, and didn't think to take any interior slides.
> Something else to add to the long list of "I should-da....."
>
> John
>
> >From: "Boris Cefer" <boris6 at volny.cz>
> >Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> >Subject: [PRCo] Re: Arden Progress
> >Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 20:37:52 +0200
> >
> >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?
> > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
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