[PRCo] Re: Shaker

[Jim Holland]

I am not a fan of lrvs either.      I am more of a RailFan-Historian 
specifically interested in PRCo with 'Historian' meaning I am interested 
in the past, not the present and not the future (but past from 2007 does 
include much lrv!)       I am Not Necessarily a rail advocate  --  if it 
is wanted and can be funded then fine - but wouldn't cram rail down the 
throat of those who don't want it.

Our Bredas seem reasonable but I avoid them  --  seats are way too close 
and uncomfortable and rail is not that reliable.       Although just 
outside my door, I drive crosstown and park then take the Trolley-Bus 
downtown which is Much Faster and Far More Reliable.

Push for your Union to make changes so you can choose Shaker and not 
lose snority.




Herb Brannon wrote:

> First, let me clarify what I said about myself "staying at Harvard instead of going to Triskett." When I returned to Cleveland from Flori-duh, I was rehired as a part-time operator at Brooklyn Station. When I became full-time in 2004 I was sent to Triskett. Triskett was then operating out of the old Woodhill Station because the old Triskett (built in 1959 by Cleveland Transit System) was being torn down and replaced with the new, larger Triskett Station. When the new station opened I did not have enough seniority to go there so I went to Harvard Avenue. Since I started full-time at Triskett that was my "home station" for life. I have elected to stay at Harvard because I get Sat/Sun/Holidays off and although I always pick the "Extra Board" rather than a run, I am high up on the board at number 18 out of 78.
>    
>   We are having many "line changes" coming up in December. Some lines now at Harvard are going to Triskett and Hayden Stations, while some lines at those stations are switching between them or coming to Harvard. This will be one of the times where an operator, if his/her seniority permits, may change stations. This time I might exercise my transfer right and go to Triskett.
>    
>   I do ride all the rail service frequently. Harvard Station is in a very "out of the way" location. To get to downtown "relief points" I have to take the 16-East 55th-Harvard bus to the East 55th Rapid Transit Station. This station serves all rail lines. Then, take any rail line to Public Square to make a downtown relief.
>    
>   The Breda cars are being rebuilt at the Brookpark Yard/Car House close to the Airport end of the Red Line (heavy rail). They are giving them a pretty complete rebuilding. They were built in 1982 and were showing signs of age. I really do not care for modern light rail cars as much as I did for the PCC streetcar. The PCC ran well, rode smooth (with properly maintained track and equipment), was simple to maintain and even simple to manufacture. The lrv type cars bounce, nose, and hunt as if they were meant to be an amusement park ride rather than a passenger hauling car. They are far too large and present a rather ungainly appearance. The front end of the Breda car is as unappealing as it could be. Another case of creating "change just for the sake of change" and not for improvement. The PCC has the lrv beat 1000 to 1 when it comes to riding quality, appearance, electric consumption, and maintenance.
>    
>   They should have just kept the Transit Research Corporation in business and carried on from the 1950 model PCC. It would have been much less costly and created much better results. But then they (the manufacturers, government, suppliers, etc.) would not have been permitted to play around with and waste public money.  
>    
>   
> Jim Holland <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com> wrote:
>   Not all system picks are the same. Here in SF we maintain our System Snority wherever we go but in Portland one who transfers goes to the bottom of the list for that division / barn -- unless they changed that since 1977. (I was hired to start work in Portland in the late 1970s but had to decline.) I am #02 in my Division but about #14 for the system of 2,200 operators // drivers (I'll know better when the system wide pick comes up, soon I would imagine.) I would probably have several above me in lrv division as that is a very high snority barn but my picks would still be good, Relatively Speaking~!~!~!
> .
> Do you ride Shaker much? They have Bredas? What do you think? Why?
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> Herb Brannon wrote:
>   
>> We do not have 'system picks' at RTA. Probably the only transit system on the planet which does not. I even tried to get transferred to Central Rail using my COPD and exposure to the fumes, dust, as the reason. The transfer request was denied. 
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>> Jim Holland 
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> wrote: 
>   
>> Do you plan to transfer into Shaker division?
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>> Herb Brannon wrote:
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>>     
>>> Anyway, I have always been able to get weekends and holidays off. That is why I stayed at Harvard Avenue Station rather than transfer to Triskett Station. Triskett has all "good" routes whereas Harvard Avenue has about two-thirds Eastside routes and one-third Westside routes. Like I always tell everyone (tongue in cheek, of course)........"they can kill you just as easy on the 55X-Clifton Blvd Express as they can on the 14-Kinsman Road Local.\
>>>
>>>
>>> Herb Brannon
>>>       
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> Jim Holland
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> Studying Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo)
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> ..............................From 1930 -- 1950
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> Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM)
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> http://www.pa-trolley.org/
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> N.M.R.A.
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> http://www.nmra.org/
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> Herb Brannon
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