Route "#s" - long routes

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

John Swindler wrote:
> 
> Jim Holland commented (concerning PRC route numbers and short turns)
> 
> >
> >So it does seem like there was a system - use the next higher number for a
> >short turn; if that number is already taken, tack on an "A."
> >
> 
> As with so much, perhaps the Pittsburgh Route numbers for short turns is
> historical.  How about this theory.  Donald Galt has listed elsewhere
> internal route numbers from 1910, and I counted 121.  That's real close to
> 99.

	Am I missing the humor here?  20% off (99+22=121); but if you say so, I
guess 99 is close to 121 - certainly closer than 98 (but not as close as
100.)

> And doesn't it seem strange that there should be exactly 99 route
> numbers - not 100 (3 digits) and not 98.  Perhaps 42-43; 10-11; 13-14;
> 64-66; etc are part of the initial two-digit numbering scheme.  Maybe these
> were full-time routes and not rush hour only?  I don't know.
> 
> Then maybe the 55A; 56A; 38A were rush hour only, or later additions.
> And where was the original terminal of 88 Frankstown?  Was it Homewood
> Shops?  So if 88 were extended to Tioga St. Loop at a later date, then would
> that account for "88 Frankstown Short" term?

	Maybe a more logical conclusion after receiving Historian Galt's list!

> >Jim also commented about confusing the public:
> >
> >That is certainly different than today where they seem to do the maximum to
> >confuse the public.  Green Line  --  for Martians only??? Blue-Line  --
> >for Sad People only???  Is everything in the towns painted the same color?
> >Is that the name of the towns or the destination?
> 
> I am reminded of McDonalds, where the cash registers have symbols, instead
> of numbers.

	What about your automobile?  When I bought my present car in 83, my
previous car was a 1970 model.  Everything on the present car is
symbols.  A symbol for sound can be similar to a symbol for lights. 
They didn't give me no symbol dictionary no-how (a triple negative is
still a negative!)
	When I went to school they emphasized that languages provided a better
means of communication than symbols - but what did they know in the 50s!

James B. Holland
------- -- ---------
        Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
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