[PRCo] PCCs___vs___lrvs
Holland Electric Rwy. Op. H.E.R.O. -- Import SPTC 1.48 Models // James B. Holland
PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com
Sat Apr 8 04:12:21 EDT 2006
Holland Electric Rwy. Op. H.E.R.O. -- Import SPTC 1.48 Models // James
B. Holland wrote:
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>Just An Observation!!!
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>Isn't there a lengthy shake down for Siemens car in Pittsburgh? Siemens not uncommon in USA.
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>Bill Robb wrote:.
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>>This is not a valid comparsion. The PCC was a thoroughly tested product before being purchased by the transit companies. Years of research went into it's development. The builders were established businesses with a solid track record. In many ways the PCC of the late 30s was an off the shelf product.
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>>Whereas today's light rail cars on systems like Muni are custom built to the customer's individual specifications. The track record of the builder is not as clear, although they may be an established transit or rail vehicle builder. How many other systems are operating the vehicles Muni purchases? How many other cities are operating the exact same Breda LRVs? Given the operating environment I'm sure it's diesel buses aren't completely off the shelf either.
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My original comments were Just An Observation (as mentioned above) but
Bill set me thinking along these lines. Bill makes A Viewpoint
above; for the sake of discussion, could other viewpoints also exist??
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I-F """the operating environment [in SF] is unique for diseaseal
buses.......""" then same must be true for PCCs?
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On Pgs.056-057 of PCC Car Fought Back is 2-page chart entitled::::
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"""The PCC--Nothing New Under The Sun....."""
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"""Evolutionary but not Revolutionary."""
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NOPSI 900 series are first cars listed along with Peter Witt from
TTC; Master Unit from Key System; Electromobile from York-PA; A few
other old cars; various Pre-PCC experiments; The Brooklyn PCC Fleet;
PRCo 1600 All-Electric; Brilliner. The chart compares body
styles, materials of construction dimensions; details of Trucks;
Mechanical / Electrical / Brake details with performance specs and weights.
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At the end of that list the modern lrv could now be listed ----
The lrv Is Definitely In the Evolutionary Chain of Transit
Vehicles As Is The PCC. (One SnoozePaper columnist // railfan
from Oz or NZ is adamant that the lrv is Totally New WithOut Even A Hint
of Relationship to other transit vehicles ---- maybe they have
reinvented the wheel down there, or maybe it operates differently upside
down, or people think differently standing on their head(!) ----
at any rate, My Apologies to him!!!)
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ALL on chart including modern lrv used for
...............Same Identical Purpose ----
...........................transporting people from
......................................Proverbial Points A to B.
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ALL use electric motors for propulsion.
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PCCs // lrvs use dynamic // regenerative for Main Brake; friction
brake (wheel tread -- drum for PCC -- axle mounted disc for lrv) to
complete and hold stopped vehicle; magnetic rail brake for
emergency. PCCs use electro-mechanical for acceleration while lrvs
use solid state -- PCCs in Europe advanced to solid state but this
begs the question as to PCC authenticity (doesn't meet current PCC
standards but had the ERPCC continued existence until the present it
is very possible standards would upgrade to Solid State.) Boeing
lrv truck Very Much Like B3 with AirBag in same identical location and
for same identical purpose as B3 spring pot - lack of axle housing
precludes frame equalization so torque arm ala B2 is necessary.
Bombardier lrv truck (Portland,_OR) not at all unlike B3 as well with
chevron springing in same location as B3 - sprung bolster.
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Doors Open And Close to allow passengers to board // alight!
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One Could Observe That The Modern lrv Is
....................<--Just--> A Souped Up PCC!!!
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And although it is a Much Worn out cliché,
....................it is extremely applicable here:
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................................."""Hardly___Rocket___Science!!!"""
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The specifications of the purchaser would hardly design the individual
components but list performance requirements that allow the builder to
choose from available systems to be included in the vehicle. How
difficult can all this be that Each And Every SF Breda Needs
Minimum of 30-Day Testing before it can enter service ---- or
run for xxxx miles before it can be used for revenue service?
Some 120,, 140,, 150 vehicles???????
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The Business Climate also needs to be considered ---- with
extremely modest exceptions, ALL PCCs from 1935--1952 purchased by
Private Enterprize where a return on the investment is The Very Basic
Concept and thus the equipment Would NOT Sit / Run Idle / Empty
like modern lrvs.
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NOW we have a Hint Of A Comparison between Delivery, Burn-In,
Testing, Service Dates // Times of PCCs vs lrvs ---- others
can contribute comments one way or the other ---- but to me, the
modern lrv burn in period seems to be Much___Ado___About___Nothing!!
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>James B. Holland" <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com> wrote: The tens typically show 2 or 3 days between delivery and service ---- this is Utterly Fascinating since PCC technology was Brand New then while in SF today, new rail equipment goes through a 30-day shake down At Least before entering service! PCC 1007 was received on 19370204 and put into service the next day, the 5th of Feb.
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>Jim__Holland
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>I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!
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>down with pantographs ---- UP___WITH___TROLLEYPOLES!!!!!!!
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