[PRCo] PRCo__&__West__Penn__February--1949

[James B. Holland]

Have quoted Dennis Linsky here before  ((he quotes info from RailFan 
pubs of the day))  and thought this might be interesting;  Comments  
And  Questions  Follow:::::::


-------- Original Message --------

Good Evening, Everyone:
 
        It was 56 years ago February 8 when the Van Dorn link and pin 
couplers were removed from all of Pittsburgh's PCC cars.       These 
couplers were needed when the PCC's were pushing or being pushed by 
conventional type cars.       This move was made since the number of 
PCC's now greatly exceeded then number of of older cars on the road.
 
        For the third time since 1939, residents along the 6-block Bon 
Air Transfer line in Carrick have blocked Pittsburgh Railways' plan to 
substitute buses;  the latest attempt was vigorously objected to and the 
one-car shuttle remained.
 
        Deliveries of the new 1700-series of streamliners has been slow. 
      The 25 interurban-PCC's were slated to go to the Tunnel Carhouse 
while the remainder were to be distributed to the Keating and Ingram 
carhouses primarily.       Pittsburgh Railways has no less than 13 
carhouses.       As of Friday, March 11, 1949, 20 new PCC's had arrived.
 
        The West Penn Railways has stated in an article that if the bus 
trial on 3 lines now proposed for abandonment works out, they will put 
buses on all remaining lines.       This new policy was the result of a 
recent shift of top  management of the West Penn.
 
        From ERA HEADLIGHTS, April, 1949, page 5.
 
        Very Sincerely,
 
        Dennis M. Linsky
        1350 East 5th Street, Apt. 3P
        Brooklyn, NY   11230-4686
        1/16/04

-------- END  Original Message --------


                Seems that an adapter between the Van Dorn on Low-Floor 
cars and the standard tow pin on a PCC would be needed, but I am not at 
all aware of any Van Dorn Link & Pin couplers on the PCCs.       First I 
have heard this  --  couldn't work with the front end skirting!       
Don't have this issue of Headlights.

                As of  1949.03.11,  cars  1700--1727    ----    Minus 
1723 which was received 1949.03.14    ----    had been  *received*  by  
PRCo,    which is 27-cars.       But only 22- 1700-series cars had  
*Entered__Service*  being  1700--1721.       Delivery and placement in 
service seems to be relatively consistent with the other 566-PCCs 
delivered!       Car 1700 arrived on 1948.11.30 and was placed into 
service 1948.12.07.       Car 1701 arrived 1949.01.18 with 1702 and 1703 
arriving 8-days later.       Production may have lagged because of the 
Holiday season.       Seems it was 1- or 2-cars a week starting with 
1701 while 1710 through 1715 inclusive arrived within one week and 
deliveries really picked up steam from that point on.

             In addition to 1700--1724,  South Hills was assigned 
1763--1769 on delivery.       Believe Carrick received 1770--1774  while 
the GE cars were divided between Keating and Ingram.       That still 
leaves 38- 1700-series PCC City Cars for Highland, Glenwood, Homewood, 
Craft, possibly Butler St and one or two other Car Houses!


Jim__Holland