[PRCo] Re: For Ed Lybarger

[Bob Dietrich]

I believe that the only time Sky-Bus was open for the public was during the
fair and the lines were too long for all but the die-hard thrill seekers.
Somewhere during my 16 years of attending Pitt I discussed Sky-Bus in a
public speaking class (ugh).  I did a little research and based my premise
that it would not succeed on the switches, or as they should be called
turnouts.  There was too much hanging below the "rails" to make a reasonable
switch.  A stub switch was required and I believe it weighed a couple tons.
I think the Sky-Buss concept is used at a couple airports and the Miami
"people mover" where the routes don't converge.  

Bob Dietrich



-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Mark
McGuire
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 11:11 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: For Ed Lybarger

When I went to WVU, I was reminded of the Sky Bus. Now I can't recall 
if the PRT(as WVU called it)was rubberized or not, but I rode it many 
times. Students got a PRT card to ride from the main campus to/from 
the engineering and medical facilities. When I left WVU, I had to 
turn in my PRT card.
 Now I do remember seeing the Sky Bus in South Park, although I don't 
recall riding on it. The Allegheny County Fair was still at South 
Park when I was a kid. Is it still there today?

-- Ken & Tracie <ktjosephson at earthlink.net> wrote:
Let's remind some of the younger folks what was once a threat to the 
remaining South Hills car lines.

My oldest brother saw these and called them "suitcases on wheels."


But the airline connection would be that these evolved into airport 
people movers. 

The railfan in me says they were not worthy successors to the PCCs.

K.

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