[PRCo] PCC Rehabilitation

[ktjosephson at earthlink.net]

A couple of questions pertaining to the repainting, etc. of the remaining Pittsburgh PCCs between 1972 and 1979. 
I remember Ed mentioning that 1799(II) (formerly 1613) had rusting stairwells when it was stricken from PAT's roster. 

How much work actually went into rehabbing these cars, starting with "Early Action"? When was it officially determined that the remaining South Hills car lines would be retained? Was the decision to "upgrade" to "light rail standards" made at the same time, or some time after retention became official? 

I seem to recall, after a 1974 visit to Boston, that PAT's "Early Action" repaints and/or rehabs seemed to reflect more careful bodywork and paint application than some of the initial MBTA green and white repaints. People tell me subsequent Boston PCC repaints/rehabs were more detailed and that the final rebuilding of the dozen or so cars for Mattapan-Ashmont service was the most thorough reconditioning of any Boston PCCs. 

I've heard varying opinions concerning SEPTA's "in-house" PCC reconditioning. I remember seeing photos of the cars emerging from the shops minus their safety fenders and wondering how effective those items really were. Plus it seems SEPTA was determined to see how small they could made the windshields without impairing the motormen's view. :-)

I suppose the untarping of 1799(II) this coming July for "the big move" will allow somebody to look it over and determine once and for all if it's really 1613....

K.

P.S.- I hope the Museum orders a tanker car full of insecticide before July. That upcoming more is going to anger more than few paper wasp colonies.