Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site fortune.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!fortune!burton From: burton@fortune.UUCP Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: The desireability of GM cars - (nf) Message-ID: <2616@fortune.UUCP> Date: Thu, 23-Feb-84 19:09:40 EST Article-I.D.: fortune.2616 Posted: Thu Feb 23 19:09:40 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 24-Feb-84 03:05:31 EST Sender: notes@fortune.UUCP Organization: Fortune Systems, Redwood City, CA Lines: 31 #R:umcp-cs:-502700:fortune:1500030:000:1514 fortune!burton Feb 23 12:38:00 1984 If you don't think that GM *didn't* almost single-handedly get streetcars off American streets, then you never heard of American City Lines. Abouyt 1934-1935, a quite revolutionaly streetcar called the PCC was developed by a consortium of streetcar manufacturers and suppliers [Presidents' Conference Committee], and this model was quite popular in the US until 1952. Many cities, however, scrapped (or sold off) these cars well before the end of their useful life (which is a lot longer than any bus), and most PCCs were replaced by GM, using "muscle" tactics on city councils and transit authorities. The PCC car was such a good design that the patents have been licenced to many foreign manufacturers. In fact, most of the streetcars and light rail systems in Europe use PCC technology. Also, many used US PCC cars are still running in South American and Asia. About the time this was going on, the "Highway Lobby's " big emphasis was not knocking off streetcars, but on getting approval for the Interstate highway system. That system was supposed to cost $27 Billion total, and to date has cost well in excess of $100 Billion with no end in sight, and by the way, it's never been finished. Inner city interstates have also killed entire neighborhoods, as anyone who knows the Bronx (NYC) is aware. Philip Burton 101 Twin Dolphin Drive Fortune Systems Redwood City, CA 94065 (415) 595-8444 x 526 - - - {allegra decvax!decwrl!amd70 cbosgd harpo hpda ihnp4 sri-unix}!fortune!burton