Considering the advanced decay of other old streetcars that have found their way to Rockwood and come back to life, one would hope that a CLRV might find its way into their collection, even on a stuffed and mounted basis. One hopes that the TTC might even consider keeping one around.
It may be easier to set up a preserved operable CLRV when the fleet gets down to the dregs. TTC is likely not willing to dilute its spare parts inventory right now given the number of cars they need to keep in service. However, they are stripping parts from the cars as they are taken out of service. At some point the number of spare parts in inventory versus the number of cars to be maintained might improve. It's conceivable that one or more museums might acquire a runnable car plus two or three parts horses. Of course, that parts supply will only last so long, but it might allow one to be kept going for a while anyways.
- Paul
It's a true shame that 4000 was lost, but as long as any of the following Swiss built protos are saved, the model is. Agreed on spares, but there's another aspect on this. And btw, Richard was incorrect on "space age" and "computers". As an electronic tech, I can assure you, even not being familiar with the actual circuit design, that the series used *many* "microprocessors". The media has failed to differentiate the difference between a microprocessor and "computer". It is merely the extent of flexibility in software control. A computer is an amalgam of thousands of microprocessors, it doesn't mean that for a specific function an and/or or nand/nor gate is insufficient. Simple diode logic is often the best and most robust, and in many cases, due to the size of the diode junction using discreet components, much, much more rugged and able to handle transients. (And on a machine like this, there are massive ones)
But I digress. Where the problem of sourcing parts might well be is in finding the *exact circuit stated part number*...whereas an 'off the shelf replacement' does it just as well if not better. Is it still stock? No it isn't, but the *function* can be maintained. And often improved. Anyone working in electronics is aware of the rampant "substitution manuals" and reams of replacement part lines. It's not like this was a Germanium era design. It's Silicon. All of the electronics can be rigged to work, even if they lose sophisticated aspects in doing so (safety interlocks and logic gates, etc)(Ironically, this is where today's tech grad could jury-rig an Arduino machine code type fix, and even program and run it from a compact computer).
Actual motor mount sizes and bogies might be a challenge, but that's where the rest of the 'scrapped ones' come in handy. As long as they have a machinist and electronic techs on staff or call at Halton, they could keep one of these running. Not like new, but how much is in a museum? It would never be certified for commercial use again, but would only have to meet basic safety regs for an operating museum exhibit.
But I agree, it was brutal watching the first one butchered. Someone's going to have to have a good reason for doing that...
