[PRCo] Re: Fineview Line - Did Streetcars Scrape Bottom?

[Herb Brannon]

It was probably, as Phillip mentioned, the lifeguard scraping on the
pavement. This same thing would happen to outbound, fully loaded,
air-electric cars upon crossing Carson St (coming off Smithfield St Bridge)
and reaching the slight upgrade just before Sycamore St and the South Hills
Tunnel portal. It happened many times to me when operating only fully
loaded air-electric cars at this point.
On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 6:53 PM, Phillip Clark Campbell <pcc_sr at yahoo.com>wrote:

> The lifeguard apparatus is often the culprit Mr.Barry.  This is the lowest
> item on the Pcc cars isn't it.  The lifeguard up front is 9-inches above
> the
> rail while the body is 12" most likely tare weight; a load would narrow
> both figures wouldn't it.  The scoop behind the guard is mounted lower
> but I have not seen figures for height above the rails.
> Comments about grades on Fineview were forwarded some time within
> the last year.  It seems the steepest grade was short in length where
> the line turned off Federal onto Henderson.  Cars generally do not
> scrape between trucks which house electrical gear so cresting grades
> is not a problem; it is generally entering grades.  Compound curves where
> a grade change is experienced on a turn may increase the chance of the
> lifeguard 'scraping.'
>
> It is nothing sensational like automobiles going airborne, then bottoming
> when they return to earth is it.  It is a minor phenomenom with the
> trolleys.
>
>
> Phil
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >________________________________
> > From: "Barry, Matthew R" <mrb190 at pitt.edu>
> >To: "pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org" <pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org>
> >Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 3:28 PM
> >Subject: [PRCo] Fineview Line - Did Streetcars Scrape Bottom?
> >
> >I have a March 1966 issue of Traction Models, in which the Fineview line
> is profiled.  The writer details the many facets of the unusual route, and
> at one point mentions that the streetcar "scraped bottom" going along a
> certain part of the route.    This may have been jest on the writer's part;
> I am not sure.   Some of the tone of the piece is light, which is why I say
> "jest."    So, did the cars scrape bottom at any point?  Perhaps at the
> highest point, on Lanark?
> >The writer also asks the readers, and members of the Arden Trolley Museum
> to petition to keep the Fineview line intact, as a tourist attraction for
> Pittsburgh.  He notes San Francisco's cable cars, and New Orleans.  He
> doesn't mention the St. Charles line, but probably is referring to that if
> mentioning Orleans.
> >
> >I should scan this article and share with you guys.  It's way, way, way
> out-of-print.
> >
> >Matt
> >
>
>


-- 
Herb Brannon
In Cuyahoga Valley National Park