new book on "McKeesport Trolleys"

[Edward H. Lybarger]

It helps to have facts, though not all are here.  I have excerpts from PSC
Docket A-11735 1924 (which I did not personally read) and the events went as
follows:

1.  In an agreement dated 2-10-99, the MW&D and Monongahela Traction Co.
agreed to share revenue and conductors in order to provide a through ride
for passengers.  The MW&D conductor rode the Mon Traction cars from
Thompson's Run Bridge outbound to McKeesport and return; Mon provided the
operator (subject to MW&D approval!).  Each company reserved the right to
operate its own cars over its own trackage, though.  There were written
modifications to the agreement in June 1900, but I don't have them in file,
though they are supposed to exist in the Docket.

2.  MW&D and successor WP did not operate its own cars here until February
1918, when Mon successor PRCo raised its fares and precipitated a row with
the City (Borough?) of Duquesne.  Here is where the facts get sketchy owing
to the limited portions of the testimony copied.

3.  By the time of the instant proceeding, both companies were operating the
route and PRCo wanted WP out of the way, since their lower fare was eroding
revenues.

I need to go to the PUC and read this docket in its entirety, and add to the
pages copied.  At the time several of us were originally engaged in this,
there was a lot to copy and with the cost being a user-unfriendly 75 cents
per page, we were selective in what we got.  The original researcher should
not be faulted here.

Ed
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
[mailto:owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org]On Behalf Of Edward H.
Lybarger
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2000 9:51 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: RE: new book on "McKeesport Trolleys"


I never heard the story of PRCo acquiring the 68 in 1902.  What history  I
do know is from a c. 1924 (I'm not near my notes) PSC proceeding which goes
something like this:

1.  West Penn built the line to Duquesne but never operated it until the
present strike against PRCo.

2.  PRCo didn't like WP operating the route.

3.  An agreement was struck that WP would quit running it as soon as PRCo
began operations again. I'll check this out at the office in the morning and
send out significant details if they differ from the above.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
[mailto:owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org]On Behalf Of Derrick J
Brashear
Sent: Friday, December 31, 1999 4:03 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: RE: new book on "McKeesport Trolleys"


On Fri, 31 Dec 1999, Fred Schneider wrote:

> years.  The true expert here is Ed Lybarger.

Indeed. Anyhow...

> I don't have a copy of the book yet.  Does he clarify the often wrongly
told
> story about Pittsburgh's route 68 being taken over from West Penn in 1902?
> Actually WP operated joint service with Pittsburgh Railways into the 1920s
> and WP continued to own and maintain the tracks and overhead used by PRC
> route 68 until 1951 when they were finally able to unload them on the
> Railways Company.  It would be nice to have the notes here at the office
> with exact dates.

p. 65: PRCo acquired the Monongahela St. Railway as part of a January 1902
consolidation, which was how they got the route (and Kennywood, which they
sold)

p. 97-98: the White Electric Traction Company was chartered in 1890, built
from the McKeesport side of the Riverton bridge to the PRR station in
Duquesne. Sold to McKeesport, Wilmerding and Duquesne on 3 March 1898
(having been leased 3 years earlier to the McKeesport, Duquesne and
Wilmerding, and the new company having been created as a vehicle to
purchase the assets of the old in bankruptcy proceedings)

p.110: Viaduct was constructed over the railroad tracks, connecting the
Riverton bridge trackage with Jerome St. MW&D's cars ran to Duquesne
until 25 May 1900; The next morning Monongahela St. Rys began through
service over the trackage into McKeesport under a trackage lease,
subsequently transferred to PRCo.

Does that cover it?

-D