[PRCo] Re: SE DE

[Phillip Clark Campbell]

> ----- Original Message ----
> From: John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2008 2:06:44 PM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: SE DE
> 
> 
> 
> Switch points and frogs needed for stub terminals, but not needed for a loop.  
> Although it is nice to have a siding at a loop.
> 
> Also, with a loop, if large enough, the center part can be leased for a gas 
> station.  Pirl St. comes to mind, but won't swear to it.
> 
> And management doesn't care if the motorman has to "lug" handles, farebox and 
> supplies to the other end.  They do care if cars back up because of scheduled 
> headway and congestion at the terminal.
> 
> Didnt' Vera Cruz shop double end cars to convert to single end?  Likewise 
> Birmingham?
> John


Mr.Swindler;


That brings Boston to mind doesn't it.  They bought the Dallas DE PCCs and they eventually were used in SE fashion; believe one trolley pole was removed as well.  SF had DE PCCs which were single-ended with double controls kept for special backup maneuvers only - unused doors were sealed; Muni city owned since inception. Even WP was quite SE 'operation' with DE equipment; Connellsville and Greensburg both had loops in terminals so trips between the two rarely changed ends.  Believe Mr.Schneider pointed this out before about the 700s being used not unlike SE cars.  Obviously Trafford, Latrobe, Fairchance, Brownsville, Martin etc. ends were stub and required a change but they only operated every 30-minutes or less didn't they, not 3-minutes!

The North American PCC fleet is essentially SE; Dallas-25, IT-08, PE-30, & SF-10+ the big exceptions for new equipment - well under 2% by any count.  Some cities had to add wyes / loops didn't they.


Phil