Elvas Tower: Pacific Electric Tower Car 1716 - Elvas Tower

PACIFIC ELECTRIC TOWER CAR 1716
UPDATED MAY, 2010
High-Detail Wire Maintenance Car
3D MODEL & TEXTURES ©2006 BY TIM MUIR

This model is built to appear as Pacific Electric tower car 1716, but is actually a conglomeration of all PE tower flatbed cars. The trucks are now correct PE standard "Type B Rigid-Bolster" (L.A.P.)-Type. It has a high level of detail including crew members.

1716 was built in 1901 by Los Angeles Pacific Railway as a flatbed work motor, numbering it 1578, to help in construction of rail lines during the formative years of that company. PE aquired the car in the 1911 "Great Merger" and renumbered it 1524 continuing to use it as a work motor. In 1915, the car was rebuilt as a tower car and renumbered 1716, and used to maintain overhead wire. 1716 was retired in 1924, and unceremoniously scrapped. But now you can run the old workhorse again, as it should be.

The tower platform is animated by pressing Ctrl+NUMPAD9. The previous version had the tower operated by the Pantograph key, so when you activated the tower your power was cut off. Now, with he DOOR command (Ctrl+NumPad9) you have to be stopped, brake applied, to raise and lower the platform. But now the car can be moved with the platform raised.

All revised files have the same names as the original so there should be no problems with activities and consists you already have.

UPDATE INFORMATION:
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As mentioned above, the platform is operated using the Door command, Ctrl+NumPad9.
Also in this version the trolley pole can be reversed, using the Mirror Arm command, Ctrl+Numpad8.

Other new additions:

Correct PE type-B Rigid Bolster trucks with fine-scale 33-34" wheels, best suited for ScaleRail operation.
Cab windows glazed.
Crew positions adjusted for reversed moves.
Headlight added to rear bracket and light code added (Bright when front light is on dim.).
Added bracing to footboards.
Added dedicated passenger view shape file without animations (to side-step the MSTS bug). Inside view position is placed out on the deck, for a great view, thanks to Jim Bebenroth.
Added specular lighting to a few parts.
Maybe a couple other adjustments I don't recall and sharp-eyed customers might see.

-Tim Muir
Sept.26, 2006
May 25, 2010

Original File Name = TowerCar1716.zip