November - December 2010 Testing of the Bowser PCC Cars
In late October 2010, a small package arrived at the Southern California Traction Club. It contained both powered and souvenir pre-production models of HO scale Bowser PCC cars for evaluation and testing. Included in the package were five pre-production models of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) PCC 2168 dressed in the 1970's "Gulf Oil" paint scheme, Toronto Transportation Commission (TTC) PCC 4336, Johnstown Traction Company (JTC) PCC 407, Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRC) PCC 1600, and Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (LAMTA) 3165. Souvenir models of the SEPTA PCC, the LAMTA PCC and the JTC PCC were also received.

In the center of the above photo are pre production models of SEPTA (Gulf Oil), TTC and LAMTA PCCs. Also shown are production models of San Francisco 1056 (Kansas City), left, and 1060 (Newark) PCCs, right, and at the extreme upper left a SEPTA Phase 1 (1980's) PCC made from an undecorated San Francisco F-Line PCC.

The pre-production cars arrived with new trolley poles and pivots which are similar to the HT-P2 trolley pole from Miniatures by Eric (Eric Courtney) and the trolley pole brass pivot bushings from Custom Traxx. Bowser made arrangements with both firms to have their designs manufactured in China for the Bowser trolleys. According to Lee English, the Miniatures by Eric HT-P2 was one of the best HO scale trolley poles on the market and he could not imagine a better operational pole for his cars.

In the above photo, at left is SEPTA 2095. This car is equipped with the current Bowser blackened nickel-silver wheels and 1270 track brakes. It also has a modified Bowser 1250 trolley pole. The Toronto car, 4336, has the new Bowser wheels with full detail and the new truck/track brake detail. This car also has one of the new Bowser poles, soon to be assigned part number 12600. These poles have tested comparably with similar HT-P2 poles made by Eric Courtney.

The testing program involved running the cars on two-rail for thirty minutes, disassembling the car and lubricating the worm gear bearings on the power truck, axle bearings and motor bearings. Running of the car is then resumed for an addditional thirty minutes in forward and thirty minutes in reverse. By this time the car should have quieted down almost to a whisper. At this time, an M4T decoder is installed and all the functions are tested, including the auxiliary roof lights on the SEPTA and TTC PCCs.
As with most new projects, there were some small discrepancies that will be documented and reported to the manufacturer for correction prior to production.