Those who noted the newswire item may wonder why the Museum doesn;t want any of the three derilict PCC's. Note that Branford (The Branford Electric Railway built the track some 112 years ago) has Brooklyn's 1001, onw of the two first production PCC's. People argue whether Pittsburgh 1000 or Brookliyn 1001 was furst. Thus we do not need another PCC.
The Trolley Museum of New York, in Kingston, has Brooklyn & Queens #1000, one of the original prototypes of the PCC car.
Correct. Rode that car in Brooklyn, Queens, and over the Williamsburg Bridge on the last night of the bridge's streetcar service into Manhatan . It was built by Clark Eqpts. Co., still in business, and still building car trucks on occasion, they built most PCC trucks. All aluminum, was not a "production" car but replaced Brooklyn 1000 which became Pittsburgh 1000. Hvve a b&w phoro of it in Brooklyn for anyone contacting me at daveklepper@yahoo.com
PCC 1001 has had its motors reconditioned as required by Sandy damage and will be operational soon. The body has been restored twice since arriving at Branford. An original type "Passameter" turnstyle has been found and is installed the correct loation at the front of the car.
Branford may not need another PCC, but at least this gets the cars off the waterfront, and hopefully more protection. Salt water is bad for metal! Hopefully someone else will save them, are any other Boston Picture Window cars preserved?
Brooklyn 1000, IIRC Clark's only PCC, has a few differences in addition to being of aluminum construction. The car is noticeably less streamlined, with rectangular standee windows, rivets, and less curves.
A photograph: http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?7682
Yes, it was the first streetcar with standee wndows, the first transit vehicle of any type.
The "T" in Boston has a display of one Type 5 and one picture-window Pullman PCC on the unused outbound track at Boyelston St. Station, the track formerly used by cars to Eggleston, Tremont and Lenox St., and City Point. Seashore may have one also.
Seashore has two picture-window PCCs. Not sure if they run, both need considerable cosmetic work.
As much as it hurts to admit it, it's often impossible to salvage or preserve equipment after damage, or even after long periods of neglect. Museums like Branford and Seashore have to squeeze the dollars they get hard to keep equipment under cover and protected, even without restoration. As one member of a museum put it, "The difference between priceless and worthless is often only a couple of years of neglect."
Thanks, Dave. I'm a little embarrassed that I forgot about that one!
We will just have to see what fate has in store for these cars.
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