Pittsburgh Rys 101

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

Charlie Brown wrote:::::::

> 3)  Is or was there any other system that had more bridges and trestles
> or more miles of track on them than PR?

	Bob Rathke's response comparing an PRCo incline to one in Iowa reminded 
me of a similar comparison in bridges.
	Some famous (locally) PRCo bridges were on the Charleroi line.  From 
Black Diamond Junction (where the Donora local cars took off to Donora) to 
Charleroi, the interurban climbed uphill to Summit before descending into 
Charleroi and in the process of the descent into Charleroi, the interurban 
crossed three bridges totalling 1,403 feet in length.  All the bridges were 
built to accommodate double track but only had one track for their entire life.
	Heading south, Bridge #3 came first.  It was 491 feet long, on a 3.078% 
downgrade and its highest point was 143.33 feet above the earth below.  Bridge 
#2 is 581 feet long and almost level with a downgrade of only 0.492% and a 
maximum height of 138.76 feet.  Bridge #3 is only 331 feet long, 105.52 feet 
high with a downgrade of 5.66%!
	The only higher bridge **that I know of** was in that hilly state of 
Iowa on the Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern interurban.  Located 3 miles north 
of Boone, Iowa, this single track trestle was 156 feet high.  The length is not 
given but it looks longer than any on the Charleroi line.  A photo of this 
bridge is on page 129 of *Trolley Car Treasury* by Frank Rowsome, Jr. and on 
page 189 of *The Interurban Era* by Middleton.

-- 
James B. Holland
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              PITTSBURGH RAILWAYS COMPANY (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
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