Pittsburgh Rys 101

[Robert E. Rathke]

One of the more unlikely inclines is in Iowa, on a hill overlooking
downtown Dubuque.
I rode it last Fall on my way to the "Field of Dreams" movie site (very
non-commercial, and also well worth the trip) which is about 30 miles
west of Dubuque.  

The incline is called the Fenelon Place Elevator, and kind of resembles
the Mongonahela Incline, but much smaller cars and with a shorter track. 
Fenelon is a low-key operation (the operator encouraged us to bring our
Dalmatian along for the ride, and spent time answering our questions). 
They have a website, but I don't have the address at hand.

Bob Rathke 7/5 

On Mon, 5 Jul 1999 13:20:11 -0700 (PDT) Charlesebrown at webtv.net (Charles
Brown) writes:
>Many thanks for Jim, Derrick, and Don for answering my many questions. 
> 
>
>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)?
>
>Forgive me for going off-topic, but Jim's comment about the 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.
>
>And I agree with Jim's comment about the current LRV "fad."  No matter
>how well built they are, they will eventually wear out and it will be
>interesting to see what the political climate is like when that 
>happens.
>
>And I enjoyed Jim anecdote about the PCC "race."  Stories like that 
>are
>what gave the systems character.  I doubt if the modern LRV era will
>produce any such stories, or any character at all (sigh :-( ).
>
>And my, Pittsburgh had a lot of inclines.  It does seem strange that
>none were built to carry streetcars (did Cincinnati have the patent on
>that idea?).  Seems a shame that more or them aren't still around.  
>They
>were quite interesting.  Kinda looked like barns going up and down the
>hills (wonder what Tony Bennett would've sung about them).  Is the
>Johnstown incline still operating?  
>
>Naturally, I came up with a couple of more questions regard the 
>current
>system.
>
>12)  What is the status of the Overbrook Line?  Seems that I recall
>hearing that it is to be rebuilt and upgraded. 
>
>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?
>
>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?  
>
>Thanks again.
>
>Charlie
>
>Charlesebrown at webtv.net
>

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