[PRCo] Re: Horns__and__Gang__Switches

[James B. Holland]

James B. Holland wrote:

> Hi Bob!
>
>
> Tis true  --  seems to be San Francisco tradition  --  I put that in 
> my original comments which are quoted below!!!!!!!        Gives me 
> pause  --  I use horn more than I should and I would prefer to emulate 
> PRCo so I need to adjust.
>
> Liked your report on the series  --  brother went to DU I believe  
> (probably a decade behind you)  --  got degree in comical engineering!!



Actually, he went to Carnegie Tech!!


> Jim__Holland
>
>
>
> Bob Rathke wrote:
>
>> And Jim will probably concur that on the Embarcadero trolley line in 
>> San Francisco, some motormen ring the bell almost constantly.
>>
>> Bob 2/26/05
>>
>> -----------------------------
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Edward H. Lybarger" <trams at adelphia.net>
>>
>>> Good Morning, Jim,
>>>
>>> This all makes sense. It's also like the policy on salt...PRCo used 
>>> it sparingly; the authority pours it on and has to reconstruct new 
>>> granite station platforms in 15 years as a result!
>>>
>>> Ed
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
>>> [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of 
>>> James
>>> B. Holland
>>> Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 6:41 AM
>>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Horns__and__Gang__Switches
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Ed!
>>>
>>>
>>> Believe this is true. When I speak // write, I do so purely in terms 
>>> of PRCo unless otherwise specified ---- 1970s is under ({[pat]}) and 
>>> ethics by that time had changed considerably.
>>>
>>> I believe it was PRCo policy for minimal use of BOTH Bell and Horn 
>>> from personal observations -- it was extremely rare that either was 
>>> used. When the bell was used it was to identify that the trolleycar 
>>> was in the vicinity to an individual // motorist who may have been 
>>> unaware of such. This is the conservative approach and one that is 
>>> actually still recommended by transit agencies but hardly enforced. 
>>> (By Contrast, my first visit to SF in 1963 saw constant 
>>> uninterrupted use of the bell like it was signaling to Get Out Of My 
>>> Way---Or Else!!!!!!!)
>>>
>>> [[[>>-- SNIPPED  HEAVILY  --<<]]]
>>>
>>> Each time I returned home after ({[pat]}) took over I saw distinct 
>>> changes in style of operation considerably more liberal than what 
>>> was apparently allowed by PRCo. And the way motormen whipped the 
>>> cars around curves after installation of pantographs was definitely 
>>> wreckless in not a few cases and borderline wreckless the rest of 
>>> the time --  believe this strongly contributed to the trailing 
>>> switch derailments on the loop at Wash Jct. The discipline of the 
>>> trolley pole made for much smoother curve negotiations.
>>>
>>>
>>> Jim__Holland
>>