SF MUIN seemed to think the GE “commutator” controller was more rugged even if it was harder to work on, IIRC. In the final days of first phase (pre-F-Line) PCC service, the GE-equippeed cars seem to rule. I think they may also have been better tow cars and MUNI was doing a lot of dead car towing toward the end. Ironically, the GE-equipped “Torpedoes” are being rebuilt with Westtinghouse-pattern gear. I understand that GE won't allow anyone else to build new equipment to its design and won't do it itself, so MUNI is using the Polish-built, Westinghouse-pattern controllers that aree found on the other PCC rebuilds.

pete groom in SF
> On Aug 11, 2017, at 7:49 PM, Richard Youltressteleg@... [TramsDownUnder] TramsDownUnder@...> wrote:

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> I remembered scanning these some weeks ago. It may explain a few things.

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> The first photo is of the GE power controller. Presumably Tatra decided that the Westinghouse design would be easier to rebuilt by low-trained staff..

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> The second photo show a traction motor which has failed. Maybe just the burnt section could be replaced, the rest just checked. I don’t know if it was a PCC or Boeing car.

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> San Francisco probably mid 1982.

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> Regards,

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> <22 AA.JPG>

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> <22 E.JPG>

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