Pittsburgh Rys 101

[EDWARD H. LYBARGER]

12)    Engineering work actively underway.

13)    Library & Drake to be renewed later in Stage II.

14)    They didn't have the money to make wholesale conversions.  The
streetcars worked quite well, remember.
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Brown <Charlesebrown at webtv.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Monday, July 05, 1999 4:20 PM
Subject: Re: Pittsburgh Rys 101


> 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
>
>