Coupla more questions - Forbes & Track Gauge

[Jim Holland]

Greetings Charlie!

Charles Brown wrote:

> Where was Forbes Field located at?

	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.!!!!!!!

> Was it in the confines of PR's streetcar system?

	ABSOLUTELY!!
	
> If so, did they run special services on game days?

	Yes Sir!

	Forbes Field was in Oakland not far from Craft Avenue Car House on 
Forbes Ave, of all places (lines 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 77/54).  Dave Hamley wrote 
a beautiful article for PTMs *Trolley Fare* and included pictures telling about 
the big operation when Pgh won the Pennant in 1959(?)  One photo showed a 1000 
series car that was not in regular service but was pulled out for this event!  
It had been modified with dash lights but they were located in a slightly 
different position than what is standard.  Think the car still had the small 
anticlimber so it looked weird!  Even interurban PCCs were seen lining up to 
carry the crowds after the game.  Special tracks existed for cars to layover to 
prevent fouling the main line; believe these were used close to the end of 
service here.  Connections existed with Fifth Avenue lines (71, 73, 75, 76).  
Can't find the issue in which this appeared but will keep trying!

	PBS did a series on baseball within the last several years.  One day 
they ran them all consecutively (9-12 hours) and the last was a movie which 
took place in the very late 30's or early-mid 40's and was centered in 
Pittsburgh!  It was colorized and the PCCs noticeable in the movie were 
absolutely beautiful.

> I've always been curious as to the Pennsylvania track gauge of 5 feet
> and 2 1/2 inches.  Where and how did this gauge originate?  Perhaps a
> drunken track foreman?

	Ed Lybarger wrote a post on this or included it as an article in PTMs 
*Trolley Fare;* he will probably comment later!

-- 
James B. Holland
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