[PRCo] Re: TrolleyCar -- TrolleyCoach

[Edward G. Skuchas]

Gentlemen,

I concur that it is inapporpriate for engineersto work outside of their
expertise.  A former employee got a job for an engineer who was resposible
for te trolley operation at a Hyatt resort in Florida.  The track was on the
edge of the road and they used bracket poles located on the opposite side.
The head engineer pulled out an old text that said that the overhead should
be within 6 inches of centerline of the track.  We know that would be for
pantographs or straight track.  The track was not straight but had quite a
few curves.  I indicated that the rule of thumb would not be appropriate for
th operation of the single truck cars with poles.  He was writing specs and
giving a layout for the poles besides the power supply.  It would then be
bid on by contractors.  I suggested that he investigate the track layout,
make a drawing of the trackwork, make a simulated template for the car and
pole, and then locate on the drawing the point where the pole shoe would be
tangent to the wire.  I indicated that he should select a pole layout, the
use of longer brackets to locate a backbone for pulloffs, and other ideas to
get a smooth contact wire layout.

The problem with the situation was the contractor who convinced the owner
and his representative to use fewer poles and pull offs so that the overhead
would not be that noticeable.  The wire ended up being segments of straight
wire that me at abrupt angles at the bracket arms.  The cars were able to
operate, but the were wearing out pole shoes rapidly.  The late Dave Cope
had visited the line during a trip, knew the line operator, and came up with
the suggestion to use a trolley bus pole shoe that pivoted.  The shoe wear
dropped dramatically.

This typing exercise and story was meant to point out that there can be many
factors affecting the final outcome of the installation.  There was a weak
engineer, that got corrected, the contractor proposed cheap to the know
nothing owner, and the maintenance guys finally came up with an acceptable
enough fix.  A group effort to a bad installation; a group effort to a fix.

I don't care for a lot of engineering that I see either in a variety of
businesses.

Ed


> From: John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
> Reply-To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:05:12 -0400
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: TrolleyCar -- TrolleyCoach
> 
> 
> 
> I know a few engineers who would concur with your last sentence, Jim.  No
> respect for those engineers there just for the paycheck.
> 
> John
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> From: Jim Holland <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com>
>> Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> Subject: [PRCo] TrolleyCar -- TrolleyCoach
>> Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:22:17 -0700
>> 
>> Then SF converts a TC line to TrolleyCar line 8 to F.
>> 
>> AND  SF has the brilliant ability to construct its TC overhead to make a
>> fixed guideway for the TC  --  wires are hung So Far to the inside of
>> the curve that it totally removes the maneuverability of the TC AND
>> makes it very easy to dewire since the poles are so extended  (esp if
>> going through special work)  and to maneuver to correct the same would
>> put on into the parking lane or directly into opposing traffic.
>> Brilliant Engineers who have never heard of trolleys before designing
>> this stuff.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> John Swindler wrote:
>>> 
>>> I heard of a traction fan who helped with the demise of some trackless
>>> trolley lines, but for economic reasons. All else being equal,
>>> eliminated the cost of overhead maintenance (primary) and operational
>>> problems with flooded underpasses(minor).
>>> 
>>> John
>> 
>> 
> 
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