[PRCo] Re: M11 accelerator

[Boris Cefer]

Now we know at least that the thing in the box carried
starting/brake/spotting current.
Do you definitely definitely remember the heat? It's not easy to cool the
resistor ribbons in such a box, but it could work. But then it would mean
there wasn't any accelerator under the floor.

M11 spent some time also at Craft, but I don't know when (late 50s???) and
the reason.

B

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Holland" <PghPCC at pacbell.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 10:05 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: M11 accelerator


> Boris Cefer wrote:
>
> >Time to come with my theory.
> >
> >If you want to show anything to student motormen, would you put it in a
box
> >to show as little as possible when it isn't necessary? It means there had
to
> >be a high voltage on that inverted accelerator! I am sure. But there was
> >also the problem of cooling. That box could not allow cooling of resistor
> >ribbons since it was too small. Therefore try to follow this THEORY: M11
had
> >TWO "accelerators". The upper one (we could call it a mutinotch switch)
was
> >inverted together with its pilot motor to show the movements of the
rotating
> >arm with rollers pushing the fingers against bus bar. This was the most
> >important thing to show, the rest had no value for students. This upper
> >accelerator had not resistor ribbons. There was also an another
accelerator
> >under the floor (a set of resistors) which had neither rollers, fingers,
bus
> >bar and pilot motor; in fact, it was only a basic frame with insulating
> >barrel (drum) and ring which carried a complete set of resistor ribbons.
> >Each finger of the upper accelerator was connected with an appropriate
> >resistor ribbon on the lower drum by means of a wire. Thus, 97 connecting
> >wires.
> >
> Interesting thoughts!     So the upper roller would carry the current
> and route it to the lower drum where the resistors were located.     I
> watched the operation on the charter and remember some arcing of the
> rollers  --  DEFINITELY  remember the heat  --  Do Not remember it
> setting up for braking but do remember it reverting to  GO  when power
> pedal was released  --  don't remember anything about braking.
>
> They could have modified the ventilation system to help air flow  --
> don't remember any vents in the box  --  would be natural to force air
> into the box and allow it to vent into the car  --  just open all the
> windows in the summer!
>
> >Isn't it crazy? Surely, but it could work and it wasn't impossible. And
if
> >it was done this way, then I understand why PAAC didn't want the car.
> >
> The only reason  ({[pat]})  needed to get rid of the car is that it was
> a TrolleyCar, StreetCar, a hated vehicle by  ({[pat.]})     Remember
> that overhauled 1630 was reportedly rejected because it sported a Ten or
> Eleven trolley cowling which made it distinctly different from all the
> 12s and forward on the property.     And 1630 had also been overhauled
> electrically // mechanically and was a stellar performer.
> ({[pats]})  Loss when they so desperately needed equipment.
>
> M11 hadn't been used for quite some time when  ({[pat]})  took over  --
> sitting on a stub track with pole down on west side of SHY down near the
> lower buildings.
>
> >B
> >
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>
> Jim
>
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