South Hills Junction-38 car assignments

[Edward H. Lybarger]

I agree 100% with Herb.  My comment was only to say that Palmer had
authority, not that he had the new cars come to his own neighborhood.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
[mailto:owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org]On Behalf Of
HRBran99 at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 1:41 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: Re: South Hills Junction-38 car assignments


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