[PRCo] Re: Question about 69 Squirrel Hill Route

[Fred Schneider]

Please explain, Phillip, where and how the weight was added.   


On May 2, 2012, at 9:17 PM, Phillip Clark Campbell wrote:

> 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
> 
>