[PRCo] Re: New Railway Properties

[Fred Schneider]

Unfortunately, what you are saying is nothing new but you have never  
attempted to lift mallet, take aim, and let it fly.

When you were still running PCCs, you wrote in Trolley Fare of  
constant breakdowns.   If it were a private company, I would have  
expected that because the object would have been the preservation of  
stockholders equity.   One doesn't waste money on overhauls on  
equipment that is about to be scrapped.    The Boeing Vertol cars  
were on order at the time.   And we all know that the Boeing cars  
were poorly engineered.   I remember some simple very obvious things  
that should never have been done such as hard wiring components had  
short lives and would need to be replaced in the back of equipment  
trays; the articulation joints that squeeked on vertical curves (they  
were wearing away steel when they were brand new).   But that was  
more than three decades ago.

More recently I read of Muni cable car conductors co-mingling fares  
and their own pocket money.    There was the famous wreck in Vernal  
Cut.   And before that the runaway.   And now you mention  
breakdowns.   It was pretty obvious to me that there is a very high  
spare ratio of cars for the F line because accident damage isn't  
getting repaired rapidly.

What's the problem Jim?   Improper staffing in certain departments?    
Parts room doesn't order parts before they are all out?   Bad street  
supervision?   Bad supervision period?

I just get the feeling that Muni is the SEPTA of the West.

fws







On Mar 27, 2006, at 11:02 PM, Holland Electric Rwy. Op. H.E.R.O. --  
Import SPTC 1.48 Models // James B. Holland wrote:

> Good Morning!
>
>
> Took vacation day because of dental appt.  (Novocain necessary and
> didn't want to be called in to Whiz In Bottle with that stuff in my  
> system!)
>
> Dentist appt. at 2.00-PM near Union Square which is downtown SF  --  I
> live right on the Judah Rail Line near Sunset Blvd. within easy  
> site and
> walking distance to Pacific Ocean at foot of Judah.       Left home @
> 12.38-Noon and walk  --  NEVER  wait for rail car  --  Experience
> Speaking.       Two trains head outbound  --  small gaggle of  
> people at
> car stop which increases in numbers at each stop as I walk.        
> Within
> 10-min I was at a crosstown line  (several blocks before was 71- 
> Noriega,
> downtown line, but nothing visible there.)       Must have just missed
> 28-19th Ave. as I waited 10-min  --  nada trolleycar visible when I
> board the bus and I can see my cross street in the distance.
> Twenty-Five  (25)  minute gap  At  A  Minimum & nothing in site  
> which is
> a 5-min distance for lrv so actual gap is near 30-min  --  headway
> should be 20-min.       I finally arrive at the dentist with 5 min to
> spare so Total Travel Time 1-Hour__17-min for what should have been a
> 25-min  MAX  trolleycar ride downtown  --  in addition to up to 10-min
> waiting.
>
> Unfortunately, this Is Very Typical of my experience with rail here in
> SF  --  NOT  reliable.       If I catch a train right away then we are
> held up at Duboce // Church and possibly delayed getting into the
> subway.       Or a train breaks down which creates more delay.
> Walk to the crosstown line also brings me to heart of shopping  
> district
> with my post office so I Often Walk this corridor  --  Very Rarely  
> Ride
> it because I can walk it in the same time as the headway between cars
> --  Unlike Many // Most others here, I am not the least bit averse to 
> walking!!!!!!!
>
> As I have said before  --  when I really want and need to get  
> downtown,
> much faster to drive to north side of GG Park and take trolley coach
> --  much more frequent, Much More Reliable.       Car was in shop for 
> oil change so I depended upon public transit.
>
> Did PRCo have delays?       YES!!!       But it was an exception with
> PRCo whereas it is the rule here in SF.
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: 	Re: New Railway Properties
> Date: 	Wed, 15 Mar 2006 02:55:52 -0800
> From: 	Holland Electric Rwy. Op. H.E.R.O. -- Import SPTC 1.48  
> Models //
> James B. Holland <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com>
> To: 	pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> References: 	<20060314221918.56774.qmail at web54713.mail.yahoo.com>
>
>
>
> --- [Snipped] ---
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
>
> Jim__Holland
>
>
> I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!
>
> down with pantographs ---- UP___WITH___TROLLEYPOLES!!!!!!!
>
>