Photo similarities

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

brathke at juno.com wrote:

> Some comments on a couple of photos questioned by Jim Holland:

> 1 - http://davesrailpix.railfan.net/pitts/htm/jfp071.htm - 1165 is on 11th
> and I am guessing this is before the rebuild of this intersection, is
> that correct?

	In a sense it seems late for the rebuilding of this intersection - must
be games the mind plays on memory!  Would be neat to see photos of the
area during rebuilding.  Would be neat to see progressive photos of the
rebuilding of Water and Smithfield as well.
	While I am strictly trolley, I did get *The Pennsy In The Steel City*
by the PRR Technical and Historical Society from PTM a number of years
back.  (This is a very professional group and fascinating reading, even
for a trolley man!)  Got it hoping to see trolleycars as well - do see
some wire, but no trolleys!  A few interesting photos on pgs.19-22 show
a couple photos of the old and new alignment of the turn and the very
interesting hexagonal tower!  Wish that tower would show up in some
trolleycar photos!  Don't understand why photographers didn't use that
for a backdrop when taking trolley shots here?!?!
	Would be interested in a book about PRR which details the Pgh. area
about 1940--1950 as to layout around Pgh. general photos of the area,
and equipment photos as to locos, steam and diesel, and esp the
passenger trains.  Any recommendations would be welcome.

> This picture was taken at Liberty Avenue and 11th St. looking north.
> There are some 1950-51 automobiles in the photo, so it was taken after
> 1951.  The large bridge in the background is the PRR's old sharp-curved
> Ft. Wayne Viaduct which led from the north side of Penn Station to the
> double deck bridge over the Allegheny River.  This bridge was replaced by
> the current, gentler-curved bridge in May, 1955 (I watched the first PRR
> passenger train to use this bridge that day; it was the Afternoon Steeler
> from Pittsburgh to Cleveland).  Anyway, construction of the new bridge
> started in 1954, and all the buildings around it were demolished, some as
> early as 1953.  The building to the far right is at the location of the
> current Greyhound Bus Station (which opened in 1960).  So, my guess is
> that this picture was taken between 1951-53.
> 
> 2 - http://davesrailpix.railfan.net/pitts/htm/jfp135.htm - did 50-Carson
> ever used 2nd Avenue?!
> 
> This is obviously a fantrip.  However, in the Fall of 1966, the
> Smithfield St. Bridge was closed for construction, and all South Hills
> tunnel trolley lines used 2nd Avenue, 10th St. Bridge and Carson St. to
> get to/from downtown and the tunnel (10th and Carson was an especially
> busy interestion, and there seemed to be a constant parade of trolleys on
> 2nd Avenue and Carson St.).  Route 30 - Carson St. had been bussed early
> in 1966, so it didn't get to run on 2nd Avenue that Fall.  However, there
> must have been other reroutings in previous years when route 30 ran on
> 2nd Ave.

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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