[milwaukee-electric] Re: West Junction Waiting Room and New Power Poles in Milwaukee

[Gary Schnabl]

On 8/3/2010 4:51 PM, Don L. Leistikow wrote:
> Gary S and list:   To further clarify Scott's description.... the Local
> Rapid Transit Line, roughly from what would have been 100th and Lapham,
> was begun out there, breaking away from the origiinal trackage tjhat ran
> through West Allis .  Construction northward from that point began in
> 1926.
>
> Standards for the new High Speed RTL into downtown Milwaukee, was a
> magnificant venture costing some six million 1926 dollars.  That entire
> line was to be grade crossing free, resulting in a combination of over
> and under road and street crossings.  Local Stops were built at
> Greenfield, Schlinger, Adler, 92nd, 84th, 79th, 76th, 73rd, 68th,
> Soldiers Home (nominally 52nd street).  A Stop was apparently built at
> about 38th street on the east side of the 40th street Bluff with
> construction endiing upon entrance to 35th street car line.
>
> LRT trains then ran north some two blocks, turning east on Clybourn to
> 6th, north to Michigan and east to the PSB.  Rechecking the TM book, a
> few minor errors exist as to the end of line service of Route 13
> Clybourn-Michigan line
>
> Limited service on Watertown trains east of West Junction, was held to
> transfer (crosstown) points (Greenfield, 84th and 68th), only.
>
> What is of more interest, is that the PROW dropped down east of 73rd
> street and joined the local Route 10 car line at a point about 70th
> street.  That line ran straight east on Fairview Avenue to Hawley Road
> where it entered prow again on the south line of Calvary Cemetary.  On
> the southeast corner of Calvary Cemetary, Route 10 cars turned north,
> whereas the LRT cars continued east, crossing the valley on a timber
> trestle which was then filled in.  Bridges crossed over 43rd street and
> the CMSTP&P tracks, before skirting the north side of the bluff.
>
> Later, the LRT and Route 10 car line were relocated in mid-block south
> of Fairview between 68th and Hawley Road, expanding the two track prow
> to four tracks in width.  That relocation ended street running on
> Fairview avenue.
>
> Hope that this more technical transscription, will enlighten the issue
> more completely.
>
> Don L.
>    
I had pretty much figured out where all the RT bridges, trestles, or 
other crossings were located, as they are clearly shown on this 1934 map 
(http://www4.uwm.edu/libraries/digilib/zoom/am000785.cfm). What was the 
long trestle or bridge at 45th and Canal used for? It heads NE into the 
Merrill Park neighborhood near Marquette Stadium.

When I traced the Wells streetcar line between 68th and 70th Streets on 
a map from around the 1930s, I noticed at least two variations. One went 
NE/SW for a couple blocks near where it split from the RT. What was the 
Wells configuration back in its final variation. Did the streetcars go 
down to grade a bit east of 68th Street and then use 68th Street or 
whatever to get to 70th Street. It was so long that I rode it that I 
forgot that segment. Somehow, I thought the streetcar crossed a creek 
around that point, but again my mind is fuzzy.

The old ROW of the #10 is still visible in aerial maps by Calvary 
cemetery and, possibly, on 70th Street--a few blocks north of 
Greenfield, where it might have turned to get to 68th Street.

Gary

-- 

Gary Schnabl
Southwest Detroit, two miles NORTH! of Canada--Windsor, that is...

Technical Editor forum <http://TechnicalEditor.FreeForums.org>

LinkedIn profile <http://www.linkedin.com/in/garyschnabl>

Elance profile 
<http://www.elance.com/php/profile/main/eolproviderprofile.php?userid=1892120&catid=100&edit=true&from=myelance>