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Request for proposals issued for El Paso streetcar project
So, are the old rails buried under the pavement? Could be a cost saver.
When I was stationed at Fort Bliss in 1977, there was a city lot, downtown, full of PCC cars. They looked to be in good shape. I hope they can be restored to service. New cars are exorbitantly priced. Maybe they can do some of the work in Juarez.
In 1978-79, when I was at Ft Bliss, the cars were at the old carbarn. The cars were still there in 81.
John B., I can’t speak for El Paso and its dry climate, but most other cities that paved over their tracks have found that the rails deteriorated quite badly over the decades, and became too brittle to reuse.
Incidentally, one El Paso PCC survives elsewhere–the Baltimore Streetcar Museum acquired one, #503/1503, a decade or so ago from Cloudcroft, New Mexico, where the plan was to have it stand in as a PCC from the first order of Baltimore PCCs.
If SF can duplicate cable cars from scratch, it is likely possible to do the same for PCC’s as the original plans should be extant.
I really hate to say anything, but I think 1974 to 2015 is actually 41 years, not 30.
Some of the new track will be on a route that never had track before. Oregon Street is pretty steep. I believe a PCC is limited to 6%.