Smithfield & Carson Streets

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

Jim Holland wrote:

>         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.

	I am looking at two photos from Scholes photos:  PGH-0036 and PGH-0064
which shows this intersection and dated 1961.10.13.  While photo dates
can be questioned, this is a very specific date.  Additionally, no
rectangular ({[PAT]}) ownership decal is pasted on the sides of the
equipment, so the photo predate Spring of 1964.

	At any rate, the second photo clearly shows that the connection to the
32 line from the tunnel side has been totall severed with all points,
frogs, and mates being removed.  However, both connections to the 32 and
West Carson to and from the south are still intact - or at least
partially intact.  The diamond on the 32 inbound across the outbound
tunnel track appears to be removed but the switch point and mate are
still in evidence on the inbound track.  Maybe the noise of the
({[PAT]}) takeover was getting pretty loud at this point and PRCo
decided to forgo the expense of removing the special work.  Will look
for other photos to confirm.

James B. Holland
------- -- ---------
        Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
    To e-mail *off-list,* please click here: mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.mcs.net:80/~weyand/nmra/