Speed

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

Donald Galt wrote:

> But I got to
> wondering whether the sedate speeds might not eventually drive
> me crazy on a twice daily trip between Washington Junction and
> the Triangle.

	Exactamente!  That is why  --  *assuming* that the Library might 
run straight thru Overbrook when it opens  --  I think people will 
transfer from the SHV line to Library line - faster ride.  O-R,  I-F  the 
SHV line is rerouted thru Overbrook and Library is sent through Dormont / 
Beechview, then the Library people will transfer to the Overbrook SHV 
line!  And some restructuring of the routes might take place so that they 
would revert to the old PRCo system - Drake, Library, and 42/38 with rush 
hour trips to Shannon!

> Some of the same thoughts arise from comparing the Calgary and
> Edmonton LR downtown routes.

	The outer ends of all these lines are reasonably fast, aren't 
they?  Calgary opted for the less expensive surface route downtown and 
seems to negotiate that rather well.

> Seattle seems bent upon the Pittsburgh solution (assuming we
> ever get anything at all!) and I am more and more convinced that
> this is an ill-conceived oil-and-water mix of neighborhood and long
> distance transport needs. And we don't even have the excuse of a
> pre-existing right of way.

	Now that sounds sad!  And it still doesn't make sense to me that 
Seattle is thinking about *possibly* getting rid of the overhead trolley 
coach *system* in ten years because of the expense of renewing 
*infrastructure* but they want to put in one rail line with much more 
intense and expensive infrastructure!

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