South Hills Junction-38 car assignments

[HRBran99 at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/24/1999 1:23:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
twg at pulsenet.com writes:

<< Don't underestimate Palmer's clout. >>

Even though Mr. Palmer was in higher management I do not believe this was the 
reason for placing new equipment on the 38 line.  Though the Great Depression 
was in full force when the new PCCs arrived, there were still people working, 
who owned automobiles, and had disposable income. The decision to place new 
and better equipment in the more affluent neighborhoods of Pittsburgh was 
purely a marketing tactic to woo them away from the auto and into the then 
'cutting edge' of electric railway technology.

Those neighborhoods, whose residents could not afford autos, were "captive" 
riders. They had to use public transportation and would ride on a horse car 
if it meant that was the only way to get someplace. Areas such as 'the Hill 
District' and 'Manchester District' did not get PCCs until the period of 
1940-1942. 

I am convinced it was just a way to recapture the discretionary rider and had 
nothing to do with what PRCo executive lived where. Not only was Mt. Lebanon 
among the first areas to get PCCs but also Highland Park, Ben Avon, and 
Emsworth, which were all upper middle class at that time.

HrB