[PRCo] Re: Question about 69 Squirrel Hill Route

Wed May 2 21:43:10 EDT 2012

Mr.Long,

I already detailed this; the Url is before my signature.

Please let me make it clear here:  PCC 1613 started service to
Washington in late-January 1946 with B2 trucks to which additional
weight was added.  Pictures of this abound that clearly show B2
trucks.  Car 1613 had a pilot and retriever, the most notable 

external signs of conversion.  Pictures of the motorman posing with
the car behind the South Hills station as well as photos on the line
on the first day of operation at County Home siding clearly show the
B2 trucks don't they.  Here is 1613 on this list site, clearly showing
B2 trucks:
http://lists.dementix.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/02-1613%2036+%20OB%20County%20Line%2019460126%201.jpg

By May 1946 when car 1614 was also converted for interurban service
these 2-cars sported "Experimental B3 trucks" that were tested under
1200-series cars from the very early 1940s.

Periodically from 1946 thru about 1949 B2s were placed under 1613
and-or 1614 while modifications were made.  The experimentsl B3s
were returned to the cars.

Because the B3s were not production models they apparently
needed special maintenance.  By the mid-1950s the experimental
B3s were removed from 1613 and 1614 and B2s installed.  Car 1613
never again had B3s.  After 1645 was in the cornfield meet with 1261
on 38A the production B3 trucks of 1645 were placed under 1614
weren't they.

Please see this Url for more information.

http://lists.dementix.org/mlist/pittsburgh-railways/2012-05/msg00048.html

Phil

----- Original Message -----
From: Dwight Long <dwightlong at verizon.net>
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
Cc: 
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 8:22 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Question about 69 Squirrel Hill Route

Boris

I think this stems from what is probably, based on recent info from you, a 
misconception.  The late John Baxter, in his write-up on the PRC interurban 
lines and specifically the conversion of 1613 for interurban service, said 
something like "had some weight added to the trucks."  The assumption was 
that the trucks were simply the B2s with which it was delivered, but your 
research tells us it had the experimental B3 trucks.  No doubt these were 
the ones to which weight was added.

All this is assumption on my part based on the facts and suppositions as 
have been recently stated.

Dwight

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Boris Cefer" <westinghouse at iol.cz>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 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