[PRCo] Re: PCC__Handbrakes

[Boris Cefer]

The interurban 1600s with B-3 trucks had air-released, spring-applied drum
brakes, so they did not have hand brake. To release the brakes to allow
pushing a broken car, each air actuator had a small hook similar to that on
1700s, which released the spring in the actuator.

Boris

----- Original Message -----
From: <hrbran99 at adelphia.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2005 2:10 AM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PCC__Handbrakes


> I was taught, in streetcar training at PAT that all AIR CARS had
air-applied, spring-released brakes and all ALL ELECTRIC CARS had
spring-applied, electrically released brakes. Hence, the all electrics did
not need an "emergency" brake. The brakes came on automatically when the
electric power in the brake circuit was lost. Also, all electric cars had to
have the "brake release" levers on each side of each truck to get the brakes
released to tow the car. Howerver, the air cars HAD to have an emergency
braking system (manual) because when the air pressure was lost so were the
brakes. Also, bear in mind that when I went through streetcar training at
PAT the only classes of PCC cars remaining were the 1600s and 1700s.
>
> However, I should think that if the 1200s were air-electric with air
brakes then they had to have had an emergency braking system. If they had
electric brakes which were spring applied and electrically released then
they would not need an emergency braking system.
>
> I do not have the two PCC books at hand right now to check. Does anyone
know what braking system was on the 1200s?
> Herb Brannon