From: heller@deepsoft.com   
      
   At Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:15:27 -0400 Clark F Morris    
   wrote:   
      
   >   
   > On Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:43:23 -0500, "New Haven"    
   > wrote:   
   >   
   > >I would like to add that PCC cars are also still in use in Boston on the   
   > >Mattapan High-Speed Line:   
   > >http://www.bostonstreetcars.com/mattapan-high-speed-line.html   
   > But Boston high management believes they are too expensive to   
   > maintain.  Apparently San Francisco knows something they don't.  I   
   > suspect SEPTA management wants to get rid of their PCCs.   
      
   SEPTA recently refurbed some PCCs for use on a 'tourist' line.  It seems   
   *people* like the PCCs, if only because they are cool (esp. with the A/C SEPTA   
   installed) antiques.  Maybe San Francisco's TA has discovered the same thing.   
      
   >   
   > Clark Morris   
   > >   
   > > wrote in message   
   > >news:137a5b01-ed49-4645-b19f-e112844b4b89@googlegroups.com...   
   > >> YouTube has a film, professionally made by GMC, showing the conversion   
   > >> of the Philadelphia transit system from streetcar to GMC diesel bus.   
   > >>   
   > >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29i_DTIEGNg   
   > >>   
   > >> One question:  Phila used a particular type of farebox, I think   
   > >> called a Grant.  (seen at roughly 17:55).  Anyone know any details   
   > >> about this farebox?  I tried searching and can't find anything.   
   > >>   
   > >> The film touts the advantages of buses over streetcars.   
   > >>   
   > >> However, the film fails to explain certain things:   
   > >>   
   > >> . The film touts the standardization of an all bus fleet.  But the   
   > >>  fleet wasn't standardized--they had different sizes of GMC buses,   
   > >>  plus retained some older models.  They also got 'new look' buses in   
   > >>  a few years, which were a more modern design.   
   > >>   
   > >> . The diesel bus carried less passengers than a streetcar.  This was a   
   > >>  problem on heavy trunk routes.   
   > >>   
   > >> . The film compared a modern bus to a 40 year old streetcar.  Modern   
   > >>  streetcars, such as PCCs, performed well and were popular with riders.   
   > >>  The PCC car had better acceleration than the buses shown.   
   > >>   
   > >> . Streetcars had twice the lifespan of a diesel bus.  The buses shown   
   > >>  had a lifespan of about 15-20 years.  Some PCC cars, which pre-dated   
   > >>  those buses by ten years, remain in service to this day, in both Phila   
   > >>  and San Fran.   
   > >>   
   > >> . The film says buses made streets more attractive.  But buses, especially   
   > >>  of that generation, had a nasty exhaust odor.   
   > >>   
   > >> . The film fails to point out that PTC was owned by GM and associated   
   > >>  automotive suppliers, who appointed the management who bought the GMC   
   > >>  buses.   The buses were fueled and got tires by the associates.   
   > >>    Many employees of that era complained that the new management was   
   > >>  excessively focused on cost control, at the expense of maintenance and   
   > >>  passenger service.  The new management had many labor problems and   
   > >>  quarrels with the city government.   
   > >>   
   > >> . Converting to bus did nothing to alleviate downtown traffic congestion.   
   > >>   
   > >> . The films touts the move of the general offices from downtown to a   
   > >>  remote location.  But there were certain administrative functions   
   > >>  that were best performed downtown.  PTC officials had to waste time   
   > >>  traveling downtown.   
   > >>   
   > >   
   >   
      
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