[PRCo] Re: Corgi model pictures and WP

[Boris Cefer]

West European, not East European PCC.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Schneider Fred" <fwschneider at comcast.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 8:44 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Corgi model pictures and WP


Red Arrow Brills (1941) and St. Louis (1949) cars had dynamic braking  
and blended air brakes.   There was no spotting circuit to  
continually position the accelerator drum when the car was coasting  
as there is (or was) in an American PCC.   The mechanism is the same  
as a European PCC.   They coast freely.   When you go for brake, the  
accelerator drum has to find the maximum dynamic brake position for  
the car's speed.   The only way it would be properly positioned is if  
the motorman came off power and immediately onto brake.

So what typically happens is the blending valve applies air until the  
accelerator drum positions itself to apply the proper resistance and  
the dynamic brake current builds up.   Then the air is released until  
the car slows down to the point where the motors no longer generate  
any current.   Then the air comes on again to make the final stop.

Explanation clear, Phil?

Fred Schneider