Like every one else I was excited at this new item.

Sadly Aristo have decided to do it to 1:29 scale "to make it compatible with their trains"  The rest of my traction models (Bachmann, LGB and HLW are ALL 1:25-1:24), and I don't recall any 1:29 scale buses which complement that scale either.

I don't think that these need to be the same scale as the locomotives in their range - from my (limited) knowledge there were no combined traction / railway operations.

The PCC car is a favourite of mine, but I got caught once before with 'scale' for these - have a look at the Corgi cars, the 1:50 scale buses they were produced alongside trying to masquerade as 'O' scale.  Any Corgi couldn't work out why they didn't sell a heap more of them.

I will reserve final judgement until they appear later this year, but I am not holding my breath.

P'n'S

Now Howard, you just can't let it go,,,can you................

Just lending credence to the old saying "you can't please everyone"!

Everything Aristo has designed has been 1:29 scale (not counting the purchased Delton molds for the AristoClassics line). In what possible way would it make business sense to change that now?

and Howard. I'm quite surprised by your comments. Lewis chose to manufacture the original design. It makes sense business wise to use the earliest prototype as this could fit in the greatest range of eras. This new product was a surprise to just about everyone and folks are already griping about it because its not the particular version they would like. Geesh!

-Brian

Here is a link to a nice YouTube clip showing a PCC charter in Philly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EF2liDDyi8

To me the PCC always made a very distinctive sound.

The sad truth for people in Los Angeles is no company can afford to make our PCCs. Because the Los Angeles red car PCC was a custom double ended car with an operator and doors on each end. For a manufacturer to make any money at it he MUST make the single ended car like the PHILLIE Car. because he can paint it in many different liveries and sell them. We double ended guys will have to buy two and cut them apart and join the two halfs together to have a Los Angeles correct car. BUMMER!

Howard

 your still the sweet loving kind person I have always known you to be.

Hope your out working on your RR in this cooler weather out west. I tried to deice the track today and broke two switch machines.

The PCC cars in the Netherlands used full pans:

http://members.tripod.com/PCC_car/

http://www.haagstramnieuws.org/

There was another good site with more historic photos including RTM narrow gauge, but no dice....no longer hosted...

There is a prototype for everything!

Now, will Aristo do Dutch paintjobs??? 

David,

Can't you get Flavely pantographs as parts from one of the existing manufacturers?

Also, San Francisco had/has a double ended PCC with both poles and a Flavely pan on it, #2008. We chartered it one day and had a great time running around the city on it.

We still use them in Boston on the Mattapan to Ashmont (Dorchester) extension of the Red Line. This takes you along the Neponset River past the old Baker's Chocolate plant and through a Cemetery. It's a beautiful ride! At one time Double Enders ran on this line. As a kid in Boston and through to my adult years I would see a Trolley every once and a while at the end of a Red ine train. You could not get on the Trolley. This was when the Red Line ended at Harvard Station. If you ever get up to Boston you can checkout the PCC Trolley on display at Boylston Street Station on the Green Line and ride the Asmont-Mattapan line.
LAO

 Mark

Well, you got him there, Mark. I'm sure the whole thing will be an utter disaster now!

-Brian

If he runs true to form we won't see the streetcar for three years..... So don't hold your breath. Anything sooner will be a suprise.