[PRCo] Re: PCC Rehabilitation

[James B. Holland]

Harold Geissenheimer wrote:

>Boris
>There were several stages of the PCC decline.
>
>First Pgh Rys painted few cars and made cheap repairs
>if any.
>

             Difficult to be specific since email is the Fast-Food of 
communications, and while some aspects of the above are true, I would 
still submit that the basic fleet received pretty decent care.     Think 
we can chronicle that cars nearing the end of life expectancy received 
little to no cosmetic attention but to keep them operating up and down 
the hills, they needed electro-mechanical attention.

             The bulk of the PCCs were purchased during receivership  
--  known that the Trustees during this period paid good attention to 
infrastructure and did not a little track renewal.     Overhead Not in 
the Los Angeles Perfect category, but Definitely Much Better than most 
systems I have seen.

             Not long after receivership / bankruptcy ended in the early 
1950s, talk of a public agency became common.      On 1954.12.05  (A 
Cold Day in Pgh, if Not That Other Place!):::::::       ""The county 
commissioners made public proposed legislation, drafted by a 
seven-member citizens' committee, for creation of a county-wide public 
transportation authority to acquire and consolidate bus and trolley 
lines.     The legislation required approval of voters in a referendum 
scheduled for primary election of 1956."""---[Pgh.,pg.502 - Stefan 
Lorant.]       So the wheels of  @#$%&*^  were in progress and it took 
another 10-years before such became reality.

             But even as of 1960, equipment was still in decent looking 
condition, overhead was good, track on prw was rough but even some 
street trackage was replaced in the very early 1960s by PRCo.     It was 
still possible to open the cars up on prw and let them roll!

             The 1200s were nearing end of life as  ({[pat]})  took over 
and may have looked shabby but Do Not Remember Holes to put my hands 
thru on any of the bodies.     None of these cars were acquired by  
({[pat]})  OR  were retired shortly thereafter if they were.     So How 
Much Money would Any One Of Us have spent on a system about to be 
condemned if we sat in the President's seat???????

             THE  Real  DownHill  Slide  came after  ({[pat]})  took 
over because, in spite of  *Stated__Intentions* to keep trolleycars 
rolling, the authority was  Hades--Bent  on getting rid of trolleycars 
and modernizing the city Known For Operating the largest rolling Trolley 
Car Museum in the country  --  Didn't Not Dameron say this himself  --  
We  Have  Had  this discussion right here before!!!!!!!

>Second after 1964 under PAAC some cars painted grey
>with very little else.  PAAC was going to abandon every thing.
>

             So the Leaders of  PAAC  were  *Liars*    ----    
*Please__Note*  that it is the Individual (Authority in this case) 
himself that calls himself a Liar when actions do not coincide with 
statements    ----    others just observe the label the individual / 
authority gives himself.

>Third.   Start of the Early Action program.  First 1700's, then 1600's
>New mod paint styles after 1970.  Bi Centenial car 1776 was first
>1600..
>
>Fourth.   Continuation by PAT after Ken and I left.
>Included the stupid steamboat car
>
>Five.  4000's, some new, some rebuilt.
>
>All of the work done under the Early Actionprogram was first
>class.  Included two 1600's with LRV fronts..  Much credit to Ken Hssong
>and Phil Castelano.
>
>Harold Geissenheimer
>