[PRCo] Re: PUC Oversight

[John Swindler]

With an apology for going off on a tangent, but in addition to finances and operating rights, PUC oversight also included safety.  PUC authority and oversight ceased when the transit operations were taken over by public authorities.  

 

This was brought to the attention of the legislature when a circa 1980 Philadelphia Inquirer article discussed what happens when a PCC car loses all three braking systems while descending a hill on route 53.  This resulted in PennDOT oversight of a bi-annual inspection of rail vehicles, just as there is PennDOT oversight of a state inspection of your automobile and busses.  

 

In the mid-1980s, the scope was expanded to comply with 49 CFR part 659, and there is now a Rail Transit Safety Review Program for fixed guideway in Pa.   

 

Cheers

John  

 

 


 
> Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:54:18 -0700
> From: pcc_sr at yahoo.com
> Subject: [PRCo] PUC Oversight
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> 
> 
> Mr.Lybarger;
> 
> 
> Tremendous help, thank you. It would seem that PRC renewed the rails,
> laid new brick, the channel is the extra space required to do this work which
> is now ready for filling.
> 
> 
> I changed the subject line. How did the PUC function relative to transit in
> the 1940s and 1950s? I have vague recollections that when PRC wanted to
> abandon service that proof of 'red ink' had to be submitted and that this
> virtually guaranteed approval. I never investigated this at the time as I
> believed the old saw that one couldn't fight city hall and I had other responsibilities;
> this was generally accepted without complaint by the public - or so it seemed.
> 
> What about changes in operations to routes - shortening hours, greater headways,
> etc; did these require PUC approval? I am sure that public opinion would be
> solicited on any transit changes submitted to the PUC; did the public respond?
> Did public opposition or input carry much weight?
> 
> 
> Phil
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Edward H. Lybarger <trams2 at comcast.net>
> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> > Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 12:39:49 PM
> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: derail
> > 
> > My guess is that it is just the line of demarcation between PRCo-maintained
> > street and city-maintained street, and that one or the other has just done
> > some work. The one I would choose is the streetcar company, because its
> > surface looks pristine while the remainder of the street does not. It will
> > probably be the city's job to fill the gap? Or not.
> > 
> > If I got really ambitious, which probably won't happen right now (!), I'd
> > look in the track sketch book for 1931 to see what work was done on Forbes
> > Street. But I'm tired...I'm just back from another jaunt and have a lot
> > staring at me, and don't have any energy!
> > 
> > I'm no help, am I?!
> > 
> > Ed
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
> > [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Phillip
> > Clark Campbell
> > Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 3:09 PM
> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: derail
> > 
> > 
> > Mr.Lybarger;
> > 
> > 
> > I wish you were able to share the other photographs; some of us can't view
> > them in person. Very nice photo isn't it. (I say this 'mostly' because I
> > like your tongue-in-cheek replies don't I.)
> > 
> > I see a 'canal' between the brick track paving and road paving; I have
> > noted this in other photographs and 'assumed' it was street upgrading. It
> > seems rather common. However it appears that a rut is not evident on the
> > other track. I now wonder if it serves a purpose - segregating the trolley
> > from traffic?
> > Certainly not drainage. There have been enough photos that this has piqued
> > my interest; none of the photos exhibit any evidence of ongoing road work.
> > 
> > I doubt any clerk kept details of this work for our edification; just a
> > curiosity item isn't it.
> > 
> > 
> > Phil
> 
> http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/derail_number68_ca_1950. jpg
> 
> http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/5450%20Rt%2071%201931%20AIS.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

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