School Trippers

[Harold Geissenheimer]

Greetings

Recent discussion about trippers to North Catholic High School reminded
me of a service I started on Community Transit in the early 1960's.
CTS had replaced the Harmony Short Line in the Allegheny Valley
and operated what is now Route 1/3A New Kensington from Pittsburgh
via North Side and East Ohio Street.  In the AM we operated a 5-10
minute headway and the students were spread over several trips.

However in the afternoon, thay all arrived at once and crowded on East
Ohio Street to wait for the bus.  There is no outbound sidewalk there.
On our Carnegie-Bridgeville Division we operated several off route
school
trips which was permitted by the PUC if there was an agreement with the
school.  So, we started a bus empty in front of the school, which went
down
the hill and then left to New Kensington.  It was usually a seated load.

To impress the students, the regular driver arranged a sidewalk
conference
with several priests for all the boys to see on Opening Day.  This
driver
understood his passengers and allowed the students to post car cards
for games and dances.  He had order in what might have been disorder!

I also remember many school trippers to South Hills High at the JCT.

And of course, the picnic trippers to Kennywood and West View for
school/community days.

Harold Geissenheimer