[PRCo] Re: My Trip To the Trolley Museum

[Edward H. Lybarger]

It was great to see Herb after 8-10 years!  We were actually instructing
yesterday, thus the dispatching presence.  The new operators were learning
and practicing radio procedure, all the while avoiding the regular service
car.  The problem solving occurred in between car movements!

The PA Turnpike has doubled the eastbound toll from the Ohio line to Route
19, and eliminated the return payment.  In their infinite wisdom, everyone
travels both directions and therefore pays the same.  It also saves time and
reduces employment.

We seem to be getting good positives on the "convention."  If we like those
November dates (the weekend before Thanksgiving, I'll commit to them and
will develop some activities from which to choose.  The only hook right now
is that it will probably be at least another week or ten days before I can
do anything.  Today and tomorrow are pretty full, and we leave Wednesday
morning until Sunday night.

Thanks for your patience.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of Herb
Brannon
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 10:12 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] My Trip To the Trolley Museum


I actually made it to PTM today. It was a really nice day here on the U.S.
North Coast and also in Western Pennsylvania. Sunny and temps in the high
60s and low 70s. Ed Lybarger was there multitasking as a researcher for one
group and also dispatching cars along the line. He and I were able to get in
nearly two hours of fine conversation and we, in theory at least, came up
with solutions to all the problems of humanity.

  The NOPS car (832) was out along with car 78 and another PST car. There
were a decent crowd of visitors checking out the cars and displays. I plan
to go back in two weeks but get there earlier than my 2:30pm appearance
today.

  Things have changed so much at both the museum and in the Pittsburgh metro
area. The museum has really grown and developed nicely. Business and
residential developments have sprung up in places were farms used to be,
hilltops have been shaved off and are now topped with office buildings and
traffic is worse than ever. PAT buses look strange to me now. The color is
odd and most have the advertising wrap which I am not a fan of. The
Pennsylvania Turnpike was another strange item also. Going to Pittsburgh I
did not get a ticket at the Ohio/Pa border like I used to get. Several miles
into Pennsylvania one stops at a toll plaza and pays a flat fee of $3.00. I
got off the turnpike at Rt 60 and did not have to pay any other turnpike
fees. But then, coming back to Cleveland I got on the turnpike at Route 19
in Wexford and, of course, did not get a ticket. I went all the way to the
Ohio Turnpike and did not have to pay coming back home. There are no toll
plazas between Pittsburgh
 and Ohio, westbound. A mystery to me !!

  All in all a wonderful Sunday afternoon is Western Pennsylvania.

Herb Brannon