Volatile Fantasy (or What If You Were Running PAT During the 1960's?)

[Carl Zager]

But, Ed, let's have some fun denying those realities. Ken's proposal would
might generate interesting history (your response is an example) and
fascinating fantasy. My first reaction to Ken was, "That sounds a little
like what I (superficially) thought I saw in Seattle. What would
Pittsburgh/Allegheny County's mass transit look like IF we had not
transferred our hatred from PRy to PAT?" I, for one, would enjoy some of
the possibile scenarios.

If not, I shall Delete RE: Volatile Fantasy each time I see it. ;-)

Let's begin ...

On Fri, 21 Jan 2000, Edward H. Lybarger wrote:

> If I'm in charge of the Port Authority, I'm beholden to some fairly powerful
> political types and will do essentially what they direct me to do.  And
> that's just what happened...Harley Swift, the first executive director, was
> pro-rail and got run out of town on one.
> 
> So while it would be fun to imagine "what coulda been," the reality is that
> what went down had, in the inimitable Pittsburgh style, to happen.  As I've
> said before, in order to understand the history here, one must understand
> the depth of the hatred (some of it justified and some of it not) the
> communities had for the trolley company.
> 
> I don't mean to rain on the parade, but "facts is facts."
> 
> Ed
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> [mailto:owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org]On Behalf Of Kenneth and
> Tracie Josephson
> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2000 7:24 PM
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Subject: Volitale Fantasy (or What If You Were Running PAT During the
> 1960's?)
> 
> 
> The early PAT management's wholesale distruction of most Pittsburgh
> streetcar lines is well known to all of us. For many of us the emotional
> reaction to this policy is still strong today. Therefore, I am a little
> leary of bring up the following topic, but here goes:
> 
> As federal funds became available for transit agencies during the
> 1960's, PAT had some unique opportunities. Suppose PAT decided to try
> for a balanced network of mass transit service. Let's say a mixture of
> light rail style upgrades, conversion of some streetcar lines to
> trackless trolley or motor coach, or even heavy rail. Perhaps retaining
> a core street railway system, like Toronto has. Suppose Pittsburgh
> Railways was advised by their attorneys to retain the streetcar lines
> closed during the 1960, (okay, let's say 1959 for all you West End fans)
> and April 1,1964 with trolley service merely suspended on those lines
> and bus substitution only being temporary. Let's also say all the PCCs
> still on the roster in 1960 are still on the property.
> 
> You have a fleet of about 500 PCCs at your disposal plus a very large
> streetcar network. Some of those cars are not good candidates for
> rebuilding. There are used PCCs available from DC, LA, Johnstown, St.
> Louis, IT, etc. , but they need modifications and in some cases,
> rebuilding. Some are too wide and others have undesirable running gear,
> etc.
> 
> Now for the fun part...you are in charge of the newly formed Port
> Authority Transit... what to do is your call! :-)  (remember, this is
> only a fantasy, though it is intended to drag out some important facts
> which we may have buried in our memories.) Ken J.
> 

 Carl Zager						KB9RVB
 czager at bloomington.in.us         http://www.mccsc.edu/~czager