Inclines (was: Pittsburgh Rys 101)

[EDWARD H. LYBARGER]

Sam Ohler's books (there was a revision) have been out of print for years.
----- Original Message -----
From: Don Galt <GaltFD at compuserve.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Monday, July 05, 1999 3:55 AM
Subject: Inclines (was: Pittsburgh Rys 101)


> I have a copy of a booklet entitled "Pittsburgh's Inclines" by Samuel R.
> Ohler, published ca1971. Is this still available?
>
> In addition to the still operating Mongahela and Duquesne inclines,
several
> survived to the middle of our century:
>
> Castle Shannon (north; 1964)
> Knoxville (or Pittsburgh, or 12th Street; 1960)
> Penn (17th Street; 1953)
> Mount Oliver (closed 1951)
> St. Clair (22d Street; 1935)
> Monongahela freight (1935)
>
> Longer ago, of note:
> Nunnery Hill (Fineview)
> Ridgewood (Charles Street)
> Clifton
> Troy Hill
> Fort Pitt (near Duquesne University)
> Bellevue
> Norwood (McKees Rocks)
> Castle Shannon south (near South Hills High School)
>
> Plus, the original alignment of the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon involved
> a winding line up the hill to a short tunnel under Mount Washington, with
> an incline leading down the north side to the river.
>
> These were all passenger-carrying (a few, vehicles as well, but no
> trolleys). There were additionally several colliery inclines on the South
> Side, such as dotted a good part of southwestern Pennsylvania.
>
> Why the inclines were not part of the street railway system as they were
in
> Cincinnati is an interesting question. The two cities have similar
> topographies (Pittsburgh's is considerably more precipitous) and similarly
> laid-out networks. Of Cincinnati's five inclines, one bit the dust before
> the turn of the century and only two survived the 1920s. Equally curious
is
> why Price Hill, last survivor but one, alone of the five never carried
> streetcars.
>
> Off topic, I know.
>
> Don Galt
> galtfd at compuserve.com
>