[PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"

Mon May 10 09:49:34 EDT 2004

Perhaps some time I should show you the trolley bus pictures from Bulgaria ...
the most poorly maintained overhead I've ever seen.

ktjosephson at earthlink.net wrote:

> Wrong, Fred, Fred...that was meant for Dr. Fred, of Overbrook orgins. :-)
>
> But since  you replied and I have both your and the list's attention, have a
> safe trip, give my regards to Leonid and please remember to snap a few shots
> of some trolley coaches.
>
> Enjoy yourself!
>
> K.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred Schneider" <fschnei at supernet.com>
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2004 1:58 PM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"
>
> > Sorry about that ... I didn't see it was to the entire list.  This is
> AAADD
> > (Advancing Age Attention Deficit Disorder).
> >
> > 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
> > > > >>
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> > > > >>
> > > > >>
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