streetduck wrote:Thanks Gerry6309 for the info. I wonder if any tracklesses will be operating up there next year. They last operated on Transit Day maybe 3 years ago; I don't think since. I know it's kind of a pain to back the coaches up after they get to the end of the overhead. Hope they don't give up on trackless operation; maybe there's not enough interest ? Also, what's the status of PCC 3127? Does anyone know if it's operational?
3127 has a burnt out ribbon in its 17KM12 main controller, caused by an open pilot motor field winding. We had the car on the pit a few years ago and a jumper across the ribbons got the car to move. There are also some air problems, including dirt in the reverser cylinders and Governor.
These are all fixable, but require proper servicing of the defective components. The biggie is the ribbon which must be serviced on the bench, and requires silver soldering on the KM's commutator. The KM weighs 400 pounds and has to be dropped into the pit, then taken to a bench.It hasn't probably been out of the car since the 1970s, so it won't be fun!
Dan Cohen, myself and others were working on one of the Flyers, but ran into trouble with the static converter, which creates the 12 volts for the auxiliary circuits. The reverse shaft, 38 feet long, was also frozen. Dan and I have both been out of action for the past year or so, therefore little has been accomplished. 8361 has no low voltage circuits, therefore fewer reasons for things to go wrong. All control is electric, from small master controllers. No 40 foot rods to get stuck!
The Swiss coach and trailer are operational, but we normally leave their operation to a pair of Swiss gentlemen who visit frequently.
Our Dayton coach is also operational, but if it gets taken out it may not get put away. Then Mother Nature will cause deterioration. Nothing is easy in the Trolley Museum business.
Gerry. STM/BSRA
The next stop is Washington. Change for Forest Hills Trains on the Winter St. Platform, and Everett Trains on the Summer St. Platform. This is an Ashmont train, change for Braintree at Columbia.