[PRCo] Re: PRC PCC 1644

[Phillip Clark Campbell]

This is a resend;  the previous email chopped the
paragraphs considerably.  Hopefully this one is
more easily read.  My apologies
 Phil





----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Holland James B. 
To: Phillip Clark Campbell 
Cc: Ken and Tracie 
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 11:32:41 AM
Subject: Re: [PRCo] PRC PCC 1644

 Hi Phillip;



The enclosed comment about 1644 is not really correct.       Car 1644
received most if not all the interurban gear  -**-for service as an
Interurban-**-  with 2-exceptions:
 
	1. Roof Light
	2. B3 trucks
Car 1644 received the experimental Clark B2A trucks,  forerunner of the
B2Bs under PRCo 1725--1799 and TTC 4500--4549.        The swing link in
the truck to accommodate the bolster was replaced with a sprung
member;  details of this construction are shown on pg.128 of PCC
Fought Back.       In the upper right is the kingpin receptacle
with the rubber sandwich springs;  in the photo of the assembled truck
on the left,  look forward of the GE actuator, under the tube frame and
behind the torque arm to see how this member fit into the truck.      
The cradle to accept the spring was welded to the tubular frame and is
shown below the above two photos.       The
torque armson the B2A for 1644
were omitted as well.       On pg.127 under the heading of  "Derivatives
of the B-2"  mention is made of outfitting 1644 with these trucks
and the modifications to keep the axles parallel through strengthening
the springs to eliminate or check the longitudinal movement.      
Whether or not this was considered  'successful'  is not mentioned; 
the production B2Bs kept both the torque arms common to B2 trucks and
the sprung bolster.       The ride on the B2B was truly like floating
on a cloud.       (I wish I could have experienced the B2B on the
Interurban lines.       The ride on the prw on the 42-Dormont was a
dream.)       Photos of 1644 as an interurban are scarce;  I haven't
seen any actual photos of the B2A truck.       The standard B2 trucks
were on 1644 as a city car after service as an interurban; 
one-of-a-kind items, whether a whole vehicle or parts, never do
well.      A UOP photo taken from high in a building shows 1644 making
the turn from Liberty to 5th;  the clamp on the cowl is quite evident
so the car was assigned to Highland until closure or elsewhere in the
east for a while before return to South Hills.       I believe a video
clip of 1644 in the vicinity of the museum is included in the TGM video
on PRCo Interurbans.

According to Dave Hamley,  who sent me the dates for conversion of the
1601s to interurbans several years ago,  car 1644 was converted for
Interurban service on 1947.05.02.       Then on 1949.05.19 the
car was returned to City Service minus the interurban
gear save one tiny part    ----    the clamp to hold the spare trolley
pole on the forward part of the trolley cowl.       This remained on
the car until it was sold to some private party and moved out of
state.       If the car is still around that clamp may still be
there!       Service as an interurban was barely over 2-years;  because
the trucks were unique thus posing potential maintenance issues it
is possible it sat in the yard more than it operated.

Most 1601s converted for interurban service  'apparently'  did not
receive roof lights until some time after the advent of the 1700-series
Interurbans which were delivered with same in 1949  (1948 for
1700-herself to satisfy the picnickers~!!!)       So it is  'possible' 
that 1644 received a roof light prior to being returned to city service
but it is not actually known at this point.       A listing of
conversion dates is included after my signature;  most were converted
in 1948.

All of this has been detailed a multitude of times before onlist;  the
URL for the UOP photo was distributed as well.

Thanks for the information you sent about Portland;  sounds like a nice
visit.       I was through Portland a couple years ago but didn't
stop.      Are you still considering a move to Portland?



Jim

1613     1945.12.xx
1614     1946.05.20
1615     1948.01.20
1616     1948.01.26
1617     1947.02.02
1618     1948.02.03
1619     1948.02.15

1644     1947.05.02;  CV City 1949.05.19

1645     1948.05.14
1646     1948.02.25
1647     1948.03.04
1648     1948.03.15


Phillip Clark Campbell wrote:


----- Forwarded Message ----
>
>From: >Ken and Tracie <ktjosephson at embarqmail.com>
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Sent: Friday, August
>28, 2009 7:59:20 AM
>Subject: [PRCo] PRC
>PCC 1644
>
>>Fan trip photo.
>>K.
>
>>P.S.-  Does anybody know why car 1644 received some interurban
>conversion items? It retained its B-2 trucks. Jim Holland noted it
>remained a "city" car, but had received some of the items PRCo
>installed on 1613-1619 and 1645-1648.
>
>>-- URL : http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/pitt16141646b.jpg