[PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"

[John Swindler]

There was the 77/54 created by linking the 54 car line (north end of Brady 
St. bridge to Carrick via S. 18th St.) with the 77 line - which seems to 
have followed most of the Bloomfield Loop (as opposed to the outer loop: 
Fifth-Shady-Penn).  I wasn't aware that it was a local dj that first coined 
the term "flying fraction", but that is how this route was known during my 
teen years in early 1960s.

Then in mid 1970s Harold G. renumbered a 1600 series rebuild as 77/54 
"Flying Fraction" instead of in the high 1700-series.  So I guess it was 
both a route and a particular PCC car.  But route came first.

Wasn't there a discussion some time ago on other Pittsburgh fractions, such 
as 6/13; 6/14; 42/38; and my mind just drew a blank as to others - oh yes, 
31/34.

John


>From: <ktjosephson at earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"
>Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 18:58:17 -0700
>
>Well, I came up with these thoughts.
>
>It was during the U.S.A.-Soviet Union "space race" when the "Jetsons"
>cartoon was so popular. The fantasy was that modernized transportation 
>would
>be about flying. As we all know, you also had a local D.J. referring to the
>77/54 as the "Flying Fraction."
>
>Some of the cars themselves had wings around their headlights, the PCC PRCo
>emblem had wings incorporated in its design, jet travel was being touted as
>the modern way to travel between cities, etc. The fantasy about "flying
>streetcars" could easily come to a child's mind.
>
>One of my older brothers, when he was ten or eleven, used to get behind the
>wheel of the '55 Chevy my dad bought for my mom and pretend he was flying
>the plane on the hood.
>
>I suppose one way to look at it is that in a future fantasy world of flying
>automobiles, moving sidewalks, commuter rockets to the moon, push button
>kitchens and talking computers, flying streetcars would fit right
>in.........though the lack of rails and wire may have diminished their
>appeal to some fans. ;-)
>
>K.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Matt Barry" <mrb190+ at pitt.edu>
>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 1:54 PM
>Subject: [PRCo] "flying streetcars"
>
>
> > In the early 60's, when it seemed that our Pittsburgh traction system
> > was just beginning to be largely abandoned in favor of buses, I would
> > frequently espouse to my older siblings that streetcars were far better
> > than buses.   They knew I was a big fan of the cars, and so to assure me
> > of the continued existance of some kind of "streetcar" transportation,
> > both my brother and sister would tell me that we would soon be boarding
> > "flying streetcars."    This did not seem like a joke to pull on a
> > younger sibling, and I envisioned this as streetcars that rode faster
> > and were largely on private rights of way.   At least, that is how it
> > was interpreted to me ----I think.
> >
> > But do any of you recall that phrase:  "flying streetcars?"
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

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