[PRCo] Re: PCC__Handbrakes

[James B. Holland]

It has been discussed here before that 17s and 12s were banned from the 
40-line because of this type of drum brake.       PRCo was concerned 
about crews having to slither under the car to release the brakes on a 
12 on the hills on the 40-line when a car went dead and needed towing  
--  don't know what that entailed.

Then Bob Rathke provided us with details of an NMRA meeting in Pgh where 
a PCC from each car type, including sub-types of Interurbans and city 
cars, were chartered and part of the tour was on the 40-line.       Bob 
mentioned that the PERC member in charge of arranging the tour knew of 
the bans by maintenance for 12s and 17s on the 40-line so he went 
directly to Palmer to get permission which drove the maintenance crews 
nuts.       This may have been the beginning of the end for the ban for 
these cars and such rules were more relaxed as time went on.

Boris Cefer wrote:

> Correct. 1200s did not have hand brake because the wheel tread brake 
> was air released, spring applied. Each truck had a pulling rod which 
> operated an air valve that allowed air in a small air tank to release 
> the brake. But I have no clue how it worked when the air disappeared 
> also from the small air tank.
>
> Boris
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Edward H. Lybarger" <trams at adelphia.net>
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2005 1:21 AM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: PCC__Handbrakes
>
>
>> Our 1138 has the wheel; air cars 1400 and higher had the water 
>> pump.       1200s didn't have a hand brake, did they?
>>
>> Ed
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
>> [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of Boris
>> Cefer
>> Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 6:16 AM
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: PCC__Handbrakes
>>
>>
>> 1440 at Seashore has the "water pump" hand brake lever.
>>
>> B
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "James B. Holland" <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com>
>> To: "- 1714 PRCo__WP__JTC -" <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 12:02 PM
>> Subject: [PRCo] PCC__Handbrakes
>>
>>
>>>>> PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com writes:
>>>>
>>> >> Don't remember wheel to operate hand brake -- remember lever.
>>>
>>>
>>> > CRVLKOTULA at aol.com wrote:
>>>
>>> > Interesting.......I remember seeing one of these
>>> > hand brake wheels on a Washington PCC from
>>> > the 1938 group. ....A good view of the hand brake
>>> > wheel is illustrated in Fred Schneider's PCC book,
>>> > The Car That Fought Back, on page 142,
>>> > as it appears on a 1938 Philadelphia PCC.
>>>
>>> > Dick Kotulak
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Richard!!
>>>
>>>
>>> Pg.159 shows PRCo 100 in top left photo with handbrake lever but 
>>> what I really remember is the lever like on MBTA 3275 on the top 
>>> right!       Don't remember any wheel handbrakes but they apparently 
>>> lasted into my era. It is *possible* PRCo changed them to levers but 
>>> do not know that for sure.
>>>
>>> I rode in 100 several times but don't remember anything about that 
>>> lever -- just the inverted controller and how HOT it got!
>>



Jim__Holland


I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!

down with pantographs ---- UP___WITH___TROLLEYPOLES!!!!!!!