<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>Actually Wheeling's Co-Op system wanted to bring a Pittsburgh PCC to Wheeling <BR>for testing. One of the drawbacks was that all the lines were single ended. <BR>The double ended PCC's would have been just the thing.
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<BR>The events right after the war moved too quickly to proceed. The philosophy <BR>that
<BR>street cars were obsolete moved the politicians to pressure Co-Op to buses. <BR>Ah, the politicians who were all for widening US 40 out of the Ohio Valley <BR>and found the
<BR>Co-Op tracks beside the road a "nuisance". Now about 53 years later that <BR>same road is a wee bit wider, just about 5" 2-1/2" wider. Take a ride on US <BR>40 today
<BR>(Interstate 70 and US 40 are not the same) instead of I 70 from Bridgeport to <BR>St. Clairsville (then reenter 70). The street layout in downtown Bridgeport <BR>has changed a bit to accomodate the new state route 7, but get on 40 and for <BR>about the first mile
<BR>the line was in the center of the street with one passing siding, then it <BR>went to the left side (if your going west) and stayed there to the Blaine <BR>viaduct. The car line went
<BR>north at this point to Barton. You stay on the main road over the viaduct to <BR>St.
<BR>Clairsville. The B&O railroad out of Benwood also ran near the car line to <BR>the viaduct and went under the viaduct. It is now all gone. Stop at the <BR>viaduct and you can
<BR>see on the south side beside the building about 10 feet of Co-Op rail, one of <BR>only two spots still visible. To keep on track, the double end PCC would <BR>have been perfect
<BR>for this line.
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<BR>So add Co-Op to the list that could use an ex Dallas double end PCC.
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<BR>Question - were the couplers on the low floor cars just link and pin couplers?
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<BR>Fred Bruhn</FONT></HTML>