PRCo West End Routes

[EDWARD H. LYBARGER]

The Smithfield Bridge throat lacked the capacity to handle the traffic, even
if the horrible track on Carson Street didn't interfere.  That would have
been quite costly to replace.  Besides, PRCo was getting enough $$$ from the
highway department to pay off the municipalities for track obligations AND
buy the new buses to service a division that had been losing money for many
years.  There had been proposals to covert Ingram Car House to trolley
coaches in 1936 and again in the late 1940s (the drawings exist).  Further,
there is a record of agreement in 1949 to take the cars off the new bridge
when it is built, which all indicate a strong desire to get out of the
streetcar business in the West End.  There were later proposals to put
tracks on the new bridge, but we can't be certain how serious those were.
It may have been for show, for the agreement to remove was accepted early
and in earnest.
-----Original Message-----
From: ray <raymond at nauticom.net>
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Date: Tuesday, April 20, 1999 11:33 AM
Subject: PRCo West End Routes


>Hello. Does anyone know why PRCo didnt reroute the west end lines down West
>Carson St to the Smithfield St. Bridge when the point bridge was replaced?
>I dont know why they had to replace those lines with buses in 58/59 as I
>have read. Just curious.
>
>Regards Ray
>
>