Panhandle

[John Swindler]

Concerning the PRR Panhandle Bridge, I believe there was some demolition 
work done at the south end of the bridge to tie the bridge deck into the 
light rail alignment along Carson Street.  And didn't the demolition 
contractor complain to the newspapters that work delays were due to the 
PRR's piers spanning Arlington and Carson St. being much more substantially 
built then anticipated?  (and some comments circulated that the PRR just 
didn't build things that fell down)

The 77/54 was cut back to to Oakland due to closing of Brady St. (22nd St.) 
Bridge on 8 July 1963.  Cars then ran from Robinson and Sandusky on north 
side to Seneca and Forbes in Oakland.  Final  abandonment of 77/54 remnant 
was 5 Sept 1965.

I remember taking the trolley to the Buhl Planetarium several times around 
1960.  Would take 64 inbound to Oakland, then transfer to 77/54 to 
northside.  Same for reverse route, but first there was always a mandatory 
visit to a hobby store on the northside on Sandusky near E. Ohio before 
heading home.  Don't think parents ever asked, and I never offered why 
longer, more circuitous routing was preferred.

Also (vaguely) recall having to transfer at Craig St. heading towards the 
northside because 77/54 was pay enter, but could ride through Oakland 
business district to Craft Ave. car barn on return trip because 64 was pay 
leave.  Strange the skills that we mastered that are totally foreign to 
teens today!

John S.



>From: brathke at juno.com
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Subject: Re: Panhandle
>Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2000 19:45:21 -0600
>
>In the early years of Amtrak, their National Limited enterered Pittsburgh 
>via the Panhandle Bridge and tunnel.  I watched it many times from my 
>office window in the USS Bldg.  However, this train was notoriously late, 
>and was eventually discontinued entirely between Missouri and the East.
>I also recall the Amtrak routing over Brunot's Island, but don't remember 
>the reason for it.
>
>And, I agree that the conversion of the Panhandle Bridge from Conrail to 
>PAT usage involved mainly the replacement of rail and signals, and the 
>addition of catenary.
>
>Bob 1/9
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>On Thu, 6 Jan 2000 14:11:00 -0800 "Donald Galt" <galtfd at att.net> writes:
> >On 6 Jan 00, at 11:52, HRBran99 at aol.com wrote:
> >
> >> The bridge was completely there and was used by Conrail almost to
> >the date that rebuilding started. It is not a new bridge. It looks the 
>same now as it did 20 or 30 years ago.
> >
> >Hmm. When I rode Amtrak from SW Ohio to Pittsburgh in 1974 (yes, it
> >was possible, though a bone-jarring experience at this date) the train 
>went roundabout to cross the Ohio at Brunot's Island and approach the 
>station via the PFW&C. So I assumed that the Panhandle Bridge was 
>unavailable 25 years ago.
> >
> >D2
> >
>
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