[PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"

Sun May 9 16:22:05 EDT 2004

Hey Dr. Fred,

Glad to see you're still with us. Do you ever receive those photo jpegs I
send to you?

K.

P.S.- We have a doctor shortage down here in the desert... wanna join our
staff? ;-)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frederick J. Sauerburger, M.D." <fjsmd at mindspring.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2004 9:54 AM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"

>
> Yo! Ed!
>
> Great Gobba-GOOBA!
> I've been trying to find a copy of the "Flyin' Fraction" for 20 years.
> Even tried the KDKA archives, but may not have had the pull--even though I
> know Bob  Logue.
> Now you say you have one!!!!
>
> I feel another donation to PTM coming on, in addition to the Ed Lybarger
> Gourmet Dinner Fund!
>
> How can I get a copy???????
>
>
> The Grateful Fred
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 10:34 AM 5/3/2004 -0400, you wrote:
> >I have a fair amount of Cordic's material, both from my own efforts and
> >those of Mac and Jon McGrew.  Among my stuff is a 1957 reel-to-reel tape
> >with half a dozen skits (including the "Flying Fraction") and a copy of
> >"THUD - The Magazine of Brick Throw."  The tapes Jon shared with me
contain
> >a lot of material taken off the broadcasts.
> >
> >Rege Cordic was a great example of "you don't have to be x-rated to be
> >funny."  The stuff is still hilarious to those of us who grew up here.
> >
> >Ed
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
> >[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of
> >Harold Geissenheimer
> >Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 2:47 PM
> >To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >Subject: [PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"
> >
> >
> >Greetings to all
> >Lets give "dj a name".  Rege Cordic was first on WWSW and then KDKA in
> >the morning.  His father was an operating  official for the B&O.  He was
a
> >railfan but created many interesting skits, both rail and otherwise.
> >Remember
> >the "brick throw", "the bridge to no where", "the Crudley whiteliner,
> >Old Frosh
> >beer (with foam on the bottom)". etc.  He  had a character, a motorman,
> >threatened
> >with the  worst, an assigment to the 77/54.  He took an old PRC
> >Highfloor car
> >and used it as a promotion as the "Cordic car".  He had an election
special
> >train on the B&O to Wheeling.  He made speaches from the rear at stops.
> >
> >Then he decided to go into TV on the west coast and failed.  Rege had the
> >voice for radio but not the looks for TV.
> >
> >I believe he was a member of ARDEN and a real Pittsburgh institution.
> >To this day, I remember his voice and skits
> >
> >He was more than a "DJ" to many pittsburghers.  Arden should make a photo
> >display about Rege and tape some of his skits as part of the exhibit..
> >
> >Does any one have any of  his recordings?
> >
> >He made "Pittsburgh some place special".
> >
> >Harold Geissenheimer
> >
> >John Swindler wrote:
> >
> >>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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> >>
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