Volatile Fantasy (or What If You Were Running PAT During the1960's?)

[Edward H. Lybarger]

See last response.

The hatred was not transferred from PRCo to PAT, just that for the
streetcars that clogged the streets remained.  Creation of a public agency,
it was reported, would put an end to all those strikes and fare increases
that this evil company perpetrated (to stay in business), and the government
subsidies would insure that everything ran smoothly and that PAT always got
the best deals in buying goods and services.  So the hatred went away until
the public learned that not all of these things happened, and then a whole
new body of criticism arose, but for different reasons.  You can't please
everybody...!

Keep in mind, too, that the people who know what they're doing don't always
get a chance to do it, especially in public agencies but often in private
ones, too.  We have a 1931 drawing of the Dormont Loop, for example, and
correspondence discussing the filling of the McLaughlin Run valley to
eliminate the trestle at Drake.  One would have improved service, the other
would have reduced maintenance costs, but neither happened, of course.

So run the scenarios..I'll enjoy them along with everyone else!

Ed
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
[mailto:owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org]On Behalf Of Carl Zager
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2000 11:40 AM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: RE: Volatile Fantasy (or What If You Were Running PAT During
the1960's?)



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