[PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"

Sun May 9 16:57:12 EDT 2004

If you mean the files of motormen cleaning windshields, I responded to that.

And don't send me any more humongous files right now.  I've off to Russia
tomorrow for a month and I fully expect to return home to find 1300 spam
messages (people who want my credit card number) and 250 notes that mean
something to me.  fws

ktjosephson at earthlink.net wrote:

> 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?"
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >>_________________________________________________________________
> > >>Getting married? Find tips, tools and the latest trends at MSN Life
> Events.
> > >>http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=married
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >