Car Life

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	'There is an exception to every rule' and many other cliches led me to
the point where I avoid using absolutes.  Don't think it was mentioned
below that the 3750s were  *never--ever--again*  used for interurban
service  --  of course they were.  But as the 3750s were built primarily
for MU--Charleroi service yet proved quite unpopular with both crews and
passengers, they were not primarily used for this purpose after the
3800s arrived.
	Yes - have the  *Headlights*  article (Sept--Oct--1984) where Bill
Vigrass details the Great Circle Tour he and friends took in the late
1940s and saw the photo of the 3761 at Downes Deli inbound with
3700-herself beside her bound for the Roscoe Loop.  But this photo was 
NOT  taken by Bill - it is credited to Duke-Middleton Collection so it
was probably supplied by the  *Headlights*  editor; photo is not dated. 
But the article itself does mention that they rode to Shannon on a
3750-series car.

	Tom Phillips shares the following:  "After the advent of the 3800's,
the 3750's, still assigned to the interurban lines (at Castle Shannon
Barn until 1932 and then South Hills) were primarily used in regular
service on 37-SHANNON where they stayed, rarely straying, until they
were displaced by the 1400's in March 1942.  Up to that time PCC's were
not normally used on 37-SHANNON."
	Tom doesn't recall offhand when part of this series was dedicated to
Sewickley service.

	So it seems that the *rule* was that the 3750s were used on Shannon
locals - the  *exception--to--the--rule*  is that these cars  *did* 
occasionally stray to Roscoe and possibly Washington.

	Don't have any official information about the early PCCs running all
the way on the interurbans, but comments in print about testing 1613 on
Washington indicate that PCCs had made the trip before.

> Fred W. Schneider III wrote:

> The 3750s were never fully retired from interurban service until there
> were enough PCC cars.  And after that there were instances of 1200s or
> 1400s from Tunnel running all the way out on the interurbans.  The 3750s
> ran as Library and Castle Shannon cars until they were scrapped c.
> 1953.  I've ridden them there. Bill Vigrass got a pounding one night
> riding one from Roscoe to Castle Shannon, c. 1946.  Dick Steinmetz had a
> picture of one at Roscoe loop in the 1940s.

>> Kenneth Josephson wrote:

>> . . . The low
>> floors were very attractive looking cars in my opinion. People I know who
>> remember riding the ones converted to interurban service hated them and some
>> claimed they would wait for one of the "real" interurbans to come along if
>> possible. But they are nice to look at.

>>> Jim Holland wrote:

>>>         Say  What?!?!:->??  The 3750s as interurbans (which were Built For
>>> Interurban Service, not converted) were very short-lived  --  1925--1930
>>> at the most as the 15-St.Louis' supplemented the 15-Brills in 1928.
>>> They were occasionally used as trippers on the interurbans after this.
>>> And the first 9-10 had a left side door cut in for Sewickley service
>>> operated from South Hills.

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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