Judging from the ridership the return of interurbans to Cleveland, OH was a success. Platforms were full, the car (303) was kept full including 15 standees and plenty of picture takers were in evidence along the ROW. Unfortunately car 36 was sidelined with mechanical problems and served as a display car for most of the weekend. GCRTA and its employees are to be congratulated for the great efforts put forth to make this great event. Volunteers from Trolleyville were on the car for historical information. GCRTA operators are breaking in on the job and will be running the cars in the normal operation. The runs were scheduled as part of the regular operation on the Waterfront Line which meant coordinating the moves in and out of Tower City with the rest of the system. Thanks to all involved for a great and historic weekend!

lamontdc@adelphia.net

While we all wish well a viable tourist trolley in Cleveland, I wonder how much sense it makes to put 100 year old wood interurbans in regular service. Perhaps the blown motor on the 36 are signs of things to come?
Trolleyville did not have a need for speed on their track, beyond moving the collection to the waterfront, there would have to be a comprehensive shop and overhaul program to make them work as much as requested. Why not just bring back a bunch of Shaker PCCs? The are not as rare as the CA&E 36, for certain.
Regardless, I would like to get out there for a ride in a wood car under catenary.

> Judging from the ridership the return of
> interurbans to Cleveland, OH was a success.
> Platforms were full, the car (303) was kept
> full including 15 standees and plenty of
> picture takers were in evidence along the
> ROW. Unfortunately car 36 was sidelined with
> mechanical problems and served as a display
> car for most of the weekend. GCRTA and its
> employees are to be congratulated for the
> great efforts put forth to make this great
> event. Volunteers from Trolleyville were on
> the car for historical information. GCRTA
> operators are breaking in on the job and
> will be running the cars in the normal
> operation. The runs were scheduled as part
> of the regular operation on the Waterfront
> Line which meant coordinating the moves in
> and out of Tower City with the rest of the
> system. Thanks to all involved for a great
> and historic weekend!


V&T RR is Dog Friendly

> While we all wish well a viable tourist
> trolley in Cleveland, I wonder how much
> sense it makes to put 100 year old wood
> interurbans in regular service. Perhaps the
> blown motor on the 36 are signs of things to
> come?
> Trolleyville did not have a need for speed
> on their track, beyond moving the collection
> to the waterfront, there would have to be a
> comprehensive shop and overhaul program to
> make them work as much as requested. Why not
> just bring back a bunch of Shaker PCCs? The
> are not as rare as the CA&E 36, for
> certain.
> Regardless, I would like to get out there
> for a ride in a wood car under catenary.

All good points ... and questions we asked. I cannot speak except as a bystander, but ... the impression I got was a choice was made to take possibly the examples of the oldest equipment with the most "vintage" appearance that could take the strain of operation. The first couple of special trips out to Shaker Square were for the VIPs, historical folks and developers and were impressive examples of what the equipment would do. I do believe they gambled and won. It was impressive to step back into the past riding cars that were darn near 100% original as they came from the factory ...lines like the LSE continually modified their cars and replaced damaged parts with homebuilt jobbies, not these guys. The baldwin trucks were solid, they will be replacing wheels soon, very little backlash on the gears plenty of power for the operation, tight air systems, really good examples of 100 year old technology.

lamontdc@adelphia.net

I was there Sunday for a few rides on 303 with the wife (she loved the cars as well). Sorry I missed the events on Saturday - trying to get out of NYC on Friday was a long hot project.

The extraordinary efforts by Trolleyville, GCRTA and everyone else who toiled to make this event happen are well appreciated. Great to see some familiar faces, and it was also great to see the faces of the folks out who had never even seen a wood interurban before.



janklorenzen@msn.com

As some one who does this on a regular basis, I can attest to the issues at hand. The tremendous amounts of work, both physical + paperwork it takes to make a project like this happen successfully.

Motor failures happen, and can be repaired.

I'm sure all the folks (both rail fans and locals)that rode the cars enjoyed the experiance. I think the setting has something to do with it.

Karl Johnson

karl_johnson@ci.sf.ca.us