Pittsburgh Rys 101

[Jim Holland]

Greetings Charlie and List!

Charles Brown wrote:

> In regards to the Washington line, how about if PTM rebuilds it between
> Drake and Washington and operates it as a historic trolley line (they
> can afford to do that, can't they)?

	I wrote to them asking about the *rumors* of PTM operating into downtown 
Washington over the former North Washington local line!  They didn't bite--they 
saw right through it as a tongue-in-cheek question.  But then since they didn't 
reply, maybe plans are already in the works for such a line!

> PCC's not having back-up control brings to mind my observations of the SF
> Muni's J line wye at 30th Street.  While their PCC's had back-up control and a
> second trolley pole, I never saw any motorman use either when
> negotiating the wye.

	The PCCs in SF did not use the *back-up pole* at the wye on Broad and 
Plymouth at the end of the "M" line nor at the short-turn wyes at 30th/Judah and 
35th/Taraval.  When the J&N pulled out in the morning or pulled in in the evening 
from the end of their lines, they used the extended wye at 11th/Market to turn 
around.  Here they had to back through trolley coach wire and many different 
overhead connections so the front pole was used ALL the time.  Also, when the 
cars backed into the barn tracks, the front pole was used.

> And my, Pittsburgh had a lot of inclines.

	My aunt used to take us kids on jaunts around Pgh.  We took a PRCO City 
Charter to sight-see the city one Sunday (ca 1955) and it included a ride on the 
incline!  The driver wanted to know how many locals were on the ride.  He related 
a story of having a bunch of out-of-town ladies on board who didn't like heights. 
 He told them the incline was an observation platform--shut the gate behind them 
and sent them merrily(?) on their way!  He said they would be a perfect 
substitute for an air raid siren!  He didn't say what they did when he picked 
them up at the bottom!

> 12)  What is the status of the Overbrook Line?  Seems that I recall
> hearing that it is to be rebuilt and upgraded.

	Plans are under way for it to be upgraded and--of all things--they are 
going to separate the buses and streetcars (LiVeRs--LRVs, same thing!) rather 
than have a paved-prw for dual mode operation and possibly make a grade 
separation at Frederick St - the first *real* grade crossing after leaving 
downtown!

> 13)  What other sections of the remaining system haven't been rebuilt or
> upgraded yet?  And what does the future look like for those sections?

	Library is to be upgraded after Overbrook and Drake is iffy.
	That's All, Folks!  --  for the remaining PRCo system!
	There is consideration for taking the LiVeRs under the Allegheny to the 
North Side but consider that new, not a rebuild of the old.

> 14)  Okay, one more.  Considering the hills of Pittsburgh, I'm surprised
> that they didn't use trolley coaches to replace streetcars on some
> lines.  Any particular reason for this?

	A couple TC demon-strators ran in Pgh, one Twin coach about 1935 which 
looped Grant, 7th, Smithfield, Liberty to Grant and the TC shared the hot 
streetcar wires; also, a SF Muni Marmon ran at a Westinghouse exposition where 
wire was specially strung ***with a wye to turn around - no back up controllers, 
either!!!!!!!***  Have a picture of both someplace!
	When ({[PAT]}) wanted to put ({[diesel buses]}) through the streetcar 
tunnel, I wrote to Ohio Brass (knowing that ({[PAT]}) would not listen to a 
trolley jolly.)  Also, it would be in OBs interest to promote TCs to sell their 
overhead.  Thought that TCs could be used in the streetcar tunnel - just place 
the ground wires out of reach of pantographs and the TCs could easily handle 
that.  But, as you can see, it never happened!

	Are you sure you ain't got no more questions, Charlie!!??!!!

	My apologies to Dr. Don for not abbreviating the quotes more - would have 
lost the context in most of them if I had!

-- 
James B. Holland
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              PITTSBURGH RAILWAYS COMPANY (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
      Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) member #273; http://www.pa-trolley.org/
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