[PRCo] Re: Experimental B3 trucks

[Fred Schneider]

Whoa d'a Saphire.   That assignment list is 1941.   The special  
trucks are about 1944.   Nothing ever remained carved in stone for  
three years.

For one thing, I suspect anything in Herron Hill was already moved by  
1942 when the 1400s came.    Homewood was traditionally a barn that  
had a little of this and a little of that.   It was important we not  
be holding cars out of service at Keating or Ingram or Tunnel or East  
Hamstring waiting for a coil or brake shoe or a door or a piece of  
glass.   But Homewood barn was two blocks from the central parts  
room.   Any leftover cars were traditionally assigned to Homewood.     
That was true as long as Homewood was open.

On Apr 5, 2006, at 5:56 PM, Holland Electric Rwy. Op. H.E.R.O. --  
Import SPTC 1.48 Models // James B. Holland wrote:

> Interesting to note that according to the assignments of 1200s upon
> delivery that fws3 sent, both 1225 and 1230 were then assigned to
> Homewood and 1278 was assigned to Keating!       The fact that they  
> had
> the experimental, however, could mean they were given special
> assignments and not at all used by these barns.        From all the
> information listed below, the WH trucks were the first set with the
> wheel tread brake shoes and the GE trucks had the drums  --  and also
> standard resilient wheels according to the photo top left.pg.133.
>
>
>
> Holland Electric Rwy. Op. H.E.R.O. -- Import SPTC 1.48 Models // James
> B. Holland wrote:
>
>> Quoting from photo caption on pg.132 PCC Car Fought Back  --   
>> """Note the spring-applied, air-released tread brakes, used only  
>> on Pittsburgh's 1200s and the New York  'Bluebird'  trains, which  
>> replaced a separate parking brake."""
>>
>> From the photo captions here,  <apparently>  the main difference  
>> between the First Two Sets of Experimental B3s  (for 1230 and 1278  
>> and whatever 12 had them after being shopped)  is that the first  
>> set had the motors suspended from the upper framing which also  
>> held the bolster and sat on the spring pots.       The second set  
>> also had a double spring pot But the motors were supported on  
>> separate transoms.       The photo shows super resilient  
>> wheels.       The top left photo on pg.133 indicates that Before  
>> The Second Prototype  (with separate motor transoms but still 2  
>> spring pots)  was delivered it had drum brakes installed instead  
>> of wheel tread brake shoes.
>>
>> Continuing on pg.133 the caption for the Upper right photo  
>> says:     """The third And Final prototype was almost identical to  
>> the production B3 trucks.       The principal exception was the   
>> carriage of the motor transoms on steel instead of rubber  
>> springs.       BELOW:       These  <Two Pairs>  went on PRCo's  
>> 1613 and 1614......."""
>>
>>
>> May we deduce the following???????
>>
>>
>> Three  (3)  Prototypes:::::::
>>
>>             +++   Double Spring Pot Each Side
>>                         Upper Frame Carries
>>                         Bolster & Motor support
>>                         Wheel Tread Brake Shoes
>>                         One  (1)  Set Under 1200s
>>
>>             +++   Double Spring Pot Each Side
>>                         Separate Motor Mount
>>                         Drum Brakes
>>                         One  (1)  Set Under 1200s
>>
>>             +++   B3 Nearly Identical to
>>                         Final Prototype.
>>                         Two  (2)  Sets, One Each Under
>>                         1613 and 1614.
>>
>> Four Sets of Experimental B3 Trucks
>>             Please See Above.
>>
>>
>> Because 1225 has wheel tread brake shoes  http://206.103.49.193/ 
>> pitts/htm/jfp073.htm  may we deduce that this set is The Very  
>> First Set of Experimental B3 trucks?
>>
>> And  <<a>  possible reason>  for 1225 not being listed in the  
>> literature as sporting the experimental B3 trucks could be as I  
>> described below
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Holland Electric Rwy. Op. H.E.R.O. -- Import SPTC 1.48 Models //  
>> James
>> B. Holland wrote:
>> .
>>
>>
>>
>>> The books mention 1230 and 1278    ----    because equipment was  
>>> in short supply during WW2 if the experimentals were pulled from  
>>> the car For Any Reason they probably just pushed another set of  
>>> regular trucks under the car and sent it right back out  -- thus  
>>> we have 1225 with experimentals as it had its trucks removed when  
>>> the experimentals were ready to go back out.
>>>
>>> Believe there were only 4-sets  --  two sets with double spring  
>>> pots each side under the 1200s and 2-set with single spring pot  
>>> that went under 1613 and 1614.       Or maybe one of the twelves  
>>> also had a set with only one spring pot.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Boris Cefer wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Is there any reliable list of PCCs which were used for truck  
>>>> tests in Pittsburgh?        Car 1225 was one of them, but the  
>>>> Books do not mention it.
>>>>
>>>> Boris
>>>>
>>>> http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/B-3%20test.jpg
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Jim__Holland
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!
>>>>
>>>> down with pantographs ---- UP___WITH___TROLLEYPOLES!!!!!!!
>>>>
>
>