[PRCo] Re: New Railway Properties

Wed Mar 15 05:55:52 EST 2006

My approach to transit is somewhat similar to yours, Bill.       I am an 
hobbyist first whose main interest is PRCo of  1920--1950.       I am 
not necessarily a rail // transit advocate.       If an area wants rail, 
can contribute to same, and can make reasonable justification for rail - 
then fine, let them have it.       But if another area doesn't want rail 
transit, that is just as fine as well.

With my interests dating to 1950 at the latest, modern rail Just Doesn't 
Interest Me.       I tried  --  went to San Diego when they first 
opened; experienced new lrv stuff here in SF as it made a debut and was 
operating the equipment then  --  PCC and lrv.       I have ridden VTA 
in San Jose once, maybe twice  --  same for historic vehicles 
there.       I have ridden Sacramento once or twice  --  don't feel safe 
in Sacramento  --  not alone in those feelings.       I saw Calgary and 
Edmonton as well as Spokane once and rode only in Spokane  --  took 
pictures elsewhere.

Until 1998 I had rellies on 3 sides of Los Angeles and only saw prw for 
new rail there  --  avoid travel to SoCal!       Have traveled through 
Salt Lake City and will do so again but not at all interested in 
stopping there and won't do so to see the rail system.

Haven't even seen  (outside of photos)  let alone ridden the rail in 
Pittsburgh since 1984  --  and if I never do, I won't be 
disappointed!       Would like to see Overbrook but Only because it is a 
part of what was there originally and has historic significance for me.

Not At All impressed with Siemens Duwag equipment  --  didn't like it 
when I saw San Diego in the early 1980s and each time I saw a new system 
with this equipment  (Sacramento, Calgary, Edmonton)  I dislike it even 
more.       Horrible problem with hunting on all systems I have seen 
with Duwag  --  Harry Peat, local railfan, has traveled all over and 
says exactly the same about Siemens.

Saw and rode Portland, OR, just after it opened in 1986 and it is The 
Only System to which I wish to make a return trip.       Innovative 
system, well constructed, excellent equipment from Bombardier, Very 
Interesting Lines, Beautiful city, wonderful place to live.       Their 
new Siemens low-floor lrvs  (L-o-w-e-r   Than  PRCo Jones Cars!!!)  also 
have a tendency to hunt  --  I rode them not long after the westside 
extension to Hillsboro opened and while the equipment was new, it had a 
tendency to hunt.       Do  NOT  like the low floor equipment  --  maybe 
I shall when I am 'Old'  --  when I rode Siemens in Portland I rode in 
the standard floor section above the power truck  --  W--A--Y    to  
vulnerable in low-floor section from someone who avoids signals and runs 
a grade crossing  --  tractor trailer and low-floor lrv at a grade 
crossing would be One Heinous Mess!       But I haven't been back since 
the new streetcar system opened and I had liked to go every couple 
years.       Should be able to make that trip more often now.       Had 
a beautiful house picked out up there  --  but Tri-Met  (Local transit 
authority which operates MAX rail  --  Metro Area Express)  took over 
the property and razed the house!       Now part of their maintenance 
facilities for the East side yard near Gresham!

I just Am Not Interested in Modern Rail  --  this  is  NOT  a judgment 
of Good Nor Bad  --  modern rail transit just does not catch my 
interest.       Can't deny that experience here at SF-Muni has jaded me 
as far as rail is concerned, but even recognizing this possibility, I 
Just Am Not Interested in modern rail.

Bill Robb wrote:
.

> Let's see I've ridden Baltimore's light rail, Spadina and Harbourfront 
> lines in Toronto, San Jose's light rail, the O-Train in Ottawa (not 
> traction but extensions maybe be), 2nd and 3rd Riverfront lines in New 
> Orleans, and demo car 2001 on Canal Street.
>
> But I still find the old stuff, which for me includes 70s era TTC 
> rebuilds, PAT air rebuilds and mod paint of the 70s and SF Muni of the 
> 80s, more interesting because it's what I encountered when I was old 
> enough to go out on my own. I find the younger fans like the new 
> stuff. It's all they know.
>
> I was in Toronto yesterday riding the Queen and Bathurst lines. For me 
> there are too many towering condos, too much graffiti, it's much 
> dirtier than I grew up with, mature trees seem to be rare and there 
> are too many cars 24/7. Since the Skydome opened there's been a night 
> club district west of University Av and south of Queen Street and now 
> that's turned into a residential area. A residential area with 
> substanial weekend nosie and traffic.
>
> Looking back at the slides of the 70s it's not just the streetcars I 
> see, but the buildings that are gone, things like the old orange Globe 
> & Mail newspaper boxes that are gone, a time when they're were plenty 
> of mature trees (not just parking lots) and a time when the streets 
> were quiet on Sunday mornings and streetcars had the streets too 
> themselves.
>
> Bill Robb
>
> Fred Schneider <fwschneider at comcast.net> wrote:
> Just a Question....
>
> I have a slide show that I've put on for East Penn and for the 
> Tractioneers in Washington of the newer Light Rail, Heavy Rail, ART 
> and Heritage Lines.
>
> I started by asking how many had visited 10 of the new properties?   
> 20? 30? 40? 50?
>
> Hey guys ... Are you aware that there are more than 50 urban railway 
> properties in the United States and Canada today if we use the 
> following definition:
>
> "Not a museum but includes subway, light rail, ART, heritage, and is 
> supported in some way by the municipality for the good of the 
> municipality and operates on municipal land."

Jim__Holland

I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!

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