[PRCo] Re: The "Light Rail ex-1600 1700s"

[Boris Cefer]

I remember a few shots of the "new" 17s being rebuilt showing certain amount
of a new steel.

B

----- Original Message -----
From: "Herb Brannon" <hrbran at sbcglobal.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 5:24 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: The "Light Rail ex-1600 1700s"


> Both were awful to operate. The PAT installed turn signals were always
going dead as were the interior lights. The first time I got to operate one
was the cream/red trim one. I relieved an operator at SHJct, inbound, on
42/38. By the time I got to 7th/Grant the turn signals were blinking slowly,
the interior lights were getting dim, and the radio had stopped transmitting
and receiving. I barely made it through the tunnel before the car would no
longer run. So much for my excitement over operating one of the 'new' PCC's.
These were common and recurring problems with the cars. Most of the work
done on them was only cosmetic. The old wiring and controls actually needed
replaced with updated versions. After all, they were still 1945
air-electrics built to the 1936 design.
>
>   The cars were very troublesome and were clumsy to operate. The
squared-off front end changed the clearance on curves and when turning
corners. The auxillary electric circuits were always going dead, too.  Also,
I always joked that the cowcatcher (pilot) should be placed under the front
door steps. Then the cows could just walk on board.
>
> Herb Brannon
>
>
>