11 Milan Peter Witts Enroute To MUNI
Hi, gang!
<[snipped]>
During late October, the 11 Milan, Italy "Peter Witts" purchased by MUNI
for service on the F-Market Historic Streetcar Line, were collected at the
port of Leghorn (Livorno), Italy, for transport across the Atlantic to
Norfolk, VA, and thence will be trucked to San Francisco.
Upon arrival on Muni property, some of them will immediately be set up for
service wearing their Milan ATM orange livery, while the rest will be
stored up at the Duboce (Mint) Yard. Installation of trolley poles and
backup controllers, and minor reprofiling of the wheels will be necessary
before they begin revenue service.
Eventually, nine (or possibly 10) of the Witts will be repainted to
represent Peter Witt cars operated by American transit systems, such as
Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto, Detroit and New York's Third
Avenue Railway System. Two cars will receive historic Milan paint schemes.
The cars being shipped to Muni are 1507, 1515, 1556, 1588, 1793, 1795,
1814, 1818, 1859 and 1911. All were built in 1928 and rebuilt by Milan ATM
between 1988 and 1992. Tram 1979 was acquired as a parts source, and one
other may be used for parts (probably 1588). Muni has been operating sister
tram 1834 since 1984, and its popularity led the agency to work toward
acquiring the additional
Peter Witts.
The F-Line opened September 1, 1995, with 17 PCC trolleys painted in
schemes representing American PCC car operators, including San Francisco.
The line is being extended along the North Waterfront to Fisherman's Wharf.
Projected opening of the extension is March2000, although it possibly could
be ready earlier.
Peter Ehrlich
F-Line Operator
Green Light Rail Division
<norcalrr@sprynet.com>