Remnants: (Was 62 Trafford - repaving)

[John Swindler]

>From: Jim Holland <pghpcc at pacbell.net>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Subject: Re: Remnants: (Was 62 Trafford - repaving)
>Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 13:23:36 -0700
>
>Greetings!
>
>Kenneth and Tracie Josephson wrote:
>
> > What I find interesting (as well as ironic) is that the subsequent 
>removal of 42/38
> > trackage and overhead infrastructure from Washington Road during the 
>1980's appears more
> > complete than the removal of other streetcar infrastructure that was 
>abandoned in the
> > '50's, '60's amd early '70's.
>
>	Basically, it is extremely expensive to go back and dig up the tracks
>after abandonment.  You will find *many* cities where the car lines are
>literally tarred and feathered the day after abandonment.
>	A classic case was Los Angeles.  Within weeks after abandonment the
>streets were tarred - not dug up to remove rails, simply tarred - but
>the wire was still up.  Saw this myself after I got out of boot in June
>of 1963.
>	The only time that tracks would be removed from the street after
>abandonment is if there was a major rebuilding slated.  Removal of the
>tracks would then be a part of the rebuilding program.
>
>James B. Holland
>


In the case of West Liberty Ave./Washington Rd. from Dormont Wye to 
Clearview Loop, track removal and street repaving was part of Light Rail 
Project.  Therefore paid with three cent - dollars.  For PAT to remove rail 
from East End and Northside routes after abandonment in 1960s would have 
required 100 cent - dollars.  Thus not the least bit ironic.

John S.


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