Bowser Pre-Production PCC

FIRST PHOTOS OF THE PRE-PRODUCTION BOWSER SAN FRANCISCO F-LINE PCC CAR

Updated - May 5, 2009

In the early morning of Wednesday, April 28th, Bowser received the first completed pre-production model of the first Bowser HO scale F-line PCC car. This model is San Francisco 1061, painted for Pacific Electric, formerly Philadelphia Transportation Company 2116. Prior to 1992, the prototype car had spent the majority of its operating hours on Philadelphia's Route 15, Girard Avenue, now operated with PCC-II vehicles. Below are photos of the preliminary body and chassis.

The paint details were not complete on the model that was received. But the roof detail, including the GPS antennas can clearly be seen.

Note the "operator" seat and a few passenger seats, the new flywheel and drive train, the cast floor and the new blackened nickel silver plated wheels. But this car promises to be a beauty.

Two preliminary models were received, a powered version and the unpowered "souvenir" version. Custom Traxx and the Southern California Traction Club began testing on the powered version on May 1st at the SCTC test track in Baldwin Hills, CA and we found that the car handled 9" radius curves with ease and will traverse the club 6" radius curves right out the the box. By using the procedure outlined in the Trolleyville Schoolhouse, Room 6, Lesson 1, getting this car to operate on smaller radii should pose no problem. The photos below show both the unpowered souvenir version (left) and powered version.

We have to report that this car ran smoothly and quietly though the 12" and 9" radius curves. It is shown on the 9" radius curve at right. There was some noise from the universal on the 6" radius curve, but the car negotiated the curve. We especially liked the blackened nickel-silver plated wheels. We noted that there are some production problems with the dummy trolley poles and this will have to be corrected prior to production. We also noted some minor paint problems and corrections still to be made, such as the addition of roof mats, some missing silver and black striping and some aluminum trim on the operators and side windows.

Some of the needed corrections were made to the pre-production model for photography to ensure precise communication. The pre-production model also did not have the PC board with the 8-pin plug for DCC Since this board will support and power the headlights, taillights and destination sign, we fabricated a headlight and a mount with brass tubing, a 1.5 v bulb and a 330 ohm resistor. The model also had a Train Control Systems Z2 decoder added and the car was rewired for overhead wire operation. The dummy trolley poles that will be provided on all models can easily replaced by either the Bowser 1250 pole, the SCTC1 brass bushing for any trolley pole using the one mm pin base. The next two photos show the car undergoing operational testing on the SCTC modules on May 5th. The car successfully negotiated the 6" radius curves on the city streetcar line without any modifications. In the left photo are models of San Francisco 'Milano" 1811 made from a Custom Traxx kit, San Francisco PCC 1050, made from the current Bowser 125210 PCC and San Francisco PCC 1052, painted for Los Angeles Railway. Car 1052 was made from one of the shells for the Bowser F-line PCC rejected last year.

The powered car weighed 5.5 ounces, which caused no problems in two rail operation but in overhead wire operation, we may eventually add one to two ounces as we do with all resin shells using the Bowser traction mechanism for better tracking on sharp curves. This vehicle should be able to be seen at the East Penn Meet later this month. Now for a few prototype photos of the cars coming this summer. Can't wait for these models!