[PRCo] Re: Question about 69 Squirrel Hill Route

[Phillip Clark Campbell]

Mr.Cefer,


As mentioned earlier, the original B2s with which 1613 started
service to Washington in January 1946 had weight added to them.
At least by the time that 1614 was converted for interurban service,
1613 and 1614 each got a set of "experimental B3s" that were
on the 1200s.

I do not know that 1613 received its original trucks back when those
B3s were removed by the mid-1950s but it was nevertheless a hard
riding car that was disliked.

One could assume from what I wrote below that the B2s were special
trucks; they were not.  But they were not good riding.


 
Phil




----- Original Message -----
From: Boris Cefer <westinghouse at iol.cz>
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
Cc: 
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 1:01 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Question about 69 Squirrel Hill Route

Let me ask a question: What does it mean "heavier B2 trucks"?

Boris

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phillip Clark Campbell" <pcc_sr at yahoo.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 5:13 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Question about 69 Squirrel Hill Route


Mr.Long,


Mr.Cefer addressed your question. I am rewording my original post
to make it more clear:

There were nine cars with production B3s (as noted, 1613 & 1614
received the upgraded [experimmental] B3s [first tested under
1200s.]) These are the nine cars:

1615, 1616, 1617, 1618, 1619, 1645, 1646, 1647, 1648.
This leaves one set of air-equipped B3s as spares.

Car 1644 received the Clark B2A trucks.

All the production B3s for the 1600-series air-cars were
installed when they were converted for interurban service;
none of those cars operated [as interurbans] with B2s.

Additionally, as you indicated, car 1613 began interurban
service with heavier B2s didn't it. "It seems" 1614 began
its interurban career May-1946 with a set of experimental
B3s. Again, it would seem 1613 had received a set of
the experimental B3s by this time. Apparently more
modifications were made and these two cars could
occasionally sport B2s for a short time.

Some time after service south of Simmons and Drake ceased,
cars 1613 and 1614 lost their B3 trucks. One of a kind is
"4" in this case isn't it yet they were apparently different enough
to offer unique maintenance challenges. Someone wrote
recently that car 1614 received [production] B3s from 1645
that was in the cornfield meet with 1261 in the early 1960s.

Car 1613 lost its interurban retriever by the mid-1950s; the
catcher above the rear windows was reinstalled. Car 1614
retained its retriever until Prc replaced all retrievers with
catchers about 1960 or later. Car 1613 rode hard on B2s
and was not liked for this and possibly other reasons.

About 1970 or later Pat removed the pilot from 1613,
replacing it with a lifeguard. The roof mounted light was removed
as well. Shop crews could still be those from Prc couldn't
they; it would be interesting to know the reasons behind
these changes. Not much later Pat put roof lights on all
equipment, city and interurban--and 1613 when rebuilt.


One of the PCC books mentions 1630 received B3s after
1648 was lost in the 1955 fire. This is very possible but
has not been confirmed. This is as far from important as
one can be yet it is interesting trivia which would be nice
to know.


Phil