[PRCo] Re: Braking Systems

[Fred Schneider]

Yes.   Broken motor lead so the dynamic brakes failed.   Because they  
failed, all the motorman had was drum brakes.   He was young,  
inadequately trained, and didn't understand why he was sliding  
through all the stops on the way in that morning.   And the problem  
was compounded because PAT removed the timed derail at South Hills  
Junction .... had it been there, the car would probably have been on  
the ground at the top of the hill instead of slamming into the P&LE  
station.   But if memories are short and we can't remember that we  
had two previous runaways in the tunnel, well, you get the picture.

On Oct 19, 2005, at 12:37 PM, Boris Cefer wrote:

> Perhaps the most tragic story of a streetcar which lost its brakes  
> (well, in
> the PCC era) was an accident of 1727 at Station square on 28th  
> October 1987.
> It was discussed on this list several years back, but others may  
> add some
> details again.
>
> Boris
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <mtoytrain at bellsouth.net>
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 2:25 PM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Braking Systems
>
>
>
>> It may sound "dumb: but with the different "HILL Routes" in  
>> Pittsburgh,
>>
> were certain cars equipped with different braking s ystems to cover  
> the
> steep grades,    Also  were there reported
>
>> stories of  a trolley losing its brakes?
>>
>> Jerry Matsick
>>
>
>
>