Smithfield & Carson Streets

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	What I had deduced from photos about said intersection is possibly
correct, at least according to the two ERA Maps - one listing PRCo
trackage as of December 1944, the other correct thru June of 1949.

	On the 1944 map, this intersection has double track diverge moves from
Smithfield to both East and West Carson, from and to the north.  One
other turn is possible:  a northbound car exiting the tunnel can turn
east onto Carson.  The only crossover at this location is north of the
passenger stop on Smithfield just before entering the bridge. 
Apparently the 32-P&LE used this crossover to change ends.  But can you
imagine the streetcar traffic it had to battle to do so, especially at
rush hours?  Is it on the TGM Video of Steel City Traction where there
is just a steady stream of PCCs and low-floors heading south across the
bridge?

	On the 1949 map, this intersection is *almost* a grand union - the only
track missing is the straight thru connection from East to West Carson
and return.  Three turns were added:
	1-- Westbound Carson to southbound Smithfield.
	2-- Eastbound Carson to southbound Smithfield.
	3-- Northbound Smithfield to westbound Carson.
	Additionally, a crossover on West Carson near Smithfield for the 32 is
also evident.

	And as mentioned on a previous post - once the West End was abandoned,
all the points, mates, and frogs on Smithfield to turn West on Carson
were removed and replaced with normal girder rail for straight-thru on
Smithfield.  The rails leading to these switch components remained.

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