The electric trolleys are pretty cool. Not really a waste either, without gas or diesel engines - they're cheap to run and low maintenance.
What's a shame is that Kenosha has this perfect outdoor square they could use as an open market not far from the museums and condos, but they rarely ever use it if at all. If they'd chalk it out and rent sections of it during the summer, I think it would make good money and provide a good/unique tourist shopping attraction that actually uses the streetcars.
The bar between the wheels is a magnetic brake - its purpose is to keep the car from rolling when it is stopped. Most of the braking is done by reversing the motor into a generator and dumping the energy into a resistor bank as heat, not friction brakes
Funny... I don't know of anyone who actually lives in Kenosha that thinks the street cars are pretty neat... most say its a colossial waste of tax dollars.
I don't think the locals in Kenosha realize the tremendous potential there is in the whole Harborpark area. The problem I see isn't the streetcars. It's the down-at-the-heels impression visitors get from the remaining non-condo areas of downtown. A lot of people actually come to Kenosha to check out those streetcars.
HaHa, I live here and I thought it was a waste too. Only time we ever ride the trolley is for fun on the fourth of July. Never would have guessed people from other places actually come to Kenosha as their destination.
Frankly, I think I'd fly out from the East Coast just to see the street cars (PCC trolleys) in action. In many ways, light rail is the way of the future. The PCC trolley was one of the world's most successful designs. Variations of it are in use around the world.
Those bars between the wheels - if I am not mistaken - are actually the brakes which are applied directly to the tracks via downward pressure and are much more effective because of the increased contact surface area as opposed to regular shoe brakes on the wheels themselves.
And if Metra added a couple more trains a day to Kenosha, there would be a lot more tourists from Chicago. Right now, it's almost a full day trip if you're not driving (and sometimes if you are).
The electric trolleys are pretty cool. Not really a waste either, without gas or diesel engines - they're cheap to run and low maintenance.
What's a shame is that Kenosha has this perfect outdoor square they could use as an open market not far from the museums and condos, but they rarely ever use it if at all. If they'd chalk it out and rent sections of it during the summer, I think it would make good money and provide a good/unique tourist shopping attraction that actually uses the streetcars.
pauljs75 10 months ago
The bar between the wheels is a magnetic brake - its purpose is to keep the car from rolling when it is stopped. Most of the braking is done by reversing the motor into a generator and dumping the energy into a resistor bank as heat, not friction brakes
ArtStone 1 year ago
Streetcars dancing on the grave of American Motors.
ramblerclassic400 1 year ago
How is this a waste of money? This is a neat way to get people to come to your city. Also it is better than haveing busses all over the place.
metraF40PH163 2 years ago
Funny... I don't know of anyone who actually lives in Kenosha that thinks the street cars are pretty neat... most say its a colossial waste of tax dollars.
beenblessedbyfaith 3 years ago
I don't think the locals in Kenosha realize the tremendous potential there is in the whole Harborpark area. The problem I see isn't the streetcars. It's the down-at-the-heels impression visitors get from the remaining non-condo areas of downtown. A lot of people actually come to Kenosha to check out those streetcars.
tracksidefan
tehsquint 3 years ago 2
HaHa, I live here and I thought it was a waste too. Only time we ever ride the trolley is for fun on the fourth of July. Never would have guessed people from other places actually come to Kenosha as their destination.
launboy8 3 years ago
Frankly, I think I'd fly out from the East Coast just to see the street cars (PCC trolleys) in action. In many ways, light rail is the way of the future. The PCC trolley was one of the world's most successful designs. Variations of it are in use around the world.
Tubes12AX7k 2 years ago
Waste of money if you ask me. I think the entire "loop" is a whopping mile long.
tattoohead 3 years ago
Those bars between the wheels - if I am not mistaken - are actually the brakes which are applied directly to the tracks via downward pressure and are much more effective because of the increased contact surface area as opposed to regular shoe brakes on the wheels themselves.
ROCKSTARCRANE 4 years ago
Kenosha is a cool little town. Anyone ever been to the "Trolley Dog" resturaunt? Damn good :)
LightMyFire92 4 years ago
The hot dogs at trolley dogs are never hot enough
colinisc 4 years ago
Fabulous video, especially the end and the under-car shot....
ROCKSTARCRANE 4 years ago
What are those bars that seem to ride the track? They are in between the wheels.
adelgado75 4 years ago
Thanks for the video, I have to get up there to see this.
bradleyo82 4 years ago
Cool video! My mom was from Kenosha...I was there a few years ago and thought it was pretty neat that they have the street cars...:-)
ncdude367 4 years ago
lol to bad no one rides em until the 4th of july fireworks show
stevegadd124 4 years ago
Actually 60,000 people a year ride them and they are Kenosha's top tourist attraction, and Kenosha takes in $210 million in tourism a year.
LouRugani 4 years ago
haha ok nvm then i only ride them around the summer time, but i guess if you live in the Downtown you would ride those
stevegadd124 4 years ago
And if Metra added a couple more trains a day to Kenosha, there would be a lot more tourists from Chicago. Right now, it's almost a full day trip if you're not driving (and sometimes if you are).
artistmac 4 years ago
All 5 of them are ex-TTC? Aren't they?
giantwarwock 4 years ago
Ayup.
LightMyFire92 4 years ago
WOW. Some of these PCCs Are ex-TTC (toronto Transit Commission)
ttcgeek 4 years ago
Great video, thanks. I'm hoping to get up there this summer.
Barrel611 5 years ago
That looks like Dave R. in the crowd. Tell him to get to work and start talking about the trains! Good job. The rain part was cool.
MCVALKRIE 5 years ago