[PRCo] Re: PCC Rehabilitation

[Boris Cefer]

Ken, I can promise to you that I will look at all what is a PCC. Thoroughly!
I hope PTM crews have some boilersuit to lend. :-) Starting to purchase a
large stock of photomaterial.

Boris

----- Original Message -----
From: <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.
>
>