PRCo--2000 -- What Trolleycars Remained?

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

> On Thu, 8 Jun 2000, Jim Holland wrote:

> >       It was not necessarily the fact that *we-the-people* abandoned
> > trolleycars  --  we abandoned public transport for private mobility  --
> > which means abandoning trolleycars, trolley coaches, and motor coaches!
> > This, too, was a factor but not the total cause.
> >       It was inevitable that this would happen!

> Derrick J Brashear wrote:

> After a trip to Sweden I'm not so sure of that. But that's a message for
> another time and place (a message I should finish and send to people;
> anyone not on Harold's list who wants it should let me know)

	Sweden is Sweden  --  not the U.S.  Still think the demise of
trolleycars in the US was inevitable.

> >       I believe that had PRCo survived until today that they would have
> > systematically replaced the trolleycars rather than rebuild the lines in
> > many but not all cases.

> I'm not sure I believe that. Or rather, I'm not sure how much of that
> would have happened. When my father was in high school track was relaid in
> Fifth Avenue, 1962 or so. Obviously someone thought rail had *some* future
> in Pittsburgh. If PAT hadn't happened, I'd bet more of the system (though
> certainly not all of it) would be left.

	Some things are done out of absolute necessity - I am sure that even in
1962 the signs of the end were apparent to officials at PRCo.  But if
rail needs replaced, it gets replaced to keep running what is running. 
That was probably cheaper than purchasing new equipment with foreclosure
looming and no guarantee that the cost would be recovered!

	Maybe you can start a good thread by listing what trolleycar lines you
believe would still exist today if PRCo had remained as well.

> Me, while I'm resigned to the loss of the 62 line, I really wish the
> Pennsy commuter service wasn't canned, not that I'm sure how going
> downtown first on the way to work would necessarily be useful. But then,
> neither the 62 nor the 87 would have taken me to Oakland anyhow.

	Transfer in Wilkinsburg to the 75 or 76!

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1940  --  1950
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