Car stops

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

Fredbruhn at aol.com wrote:

> A photo of Buttermilk Hollow on the McKeesport line shows a car stop sign
> that must be white letters on either a red or black background.  What is the
> background color and what is the significance?

	Is this the one on page 40 of Smith's *Touring Pgh by Trolley?*  There
is another sign beside it as well.  From Fred's explanation, this may
have been one of the WP signs that migrated to this location!
	And also as Fred mentioned, there were special stops for Sundays only. 
While there were others, the only one I remember (at the moment) is on
the double reverse curve on 5th Avenue inbound of Craft.  I thought it
was a yellow background but can't recall for sure.  I think the shape
was different and this particular one was hanging between the inbound
and outbound lines indicating a stop for both directions.  Probably
weren't many variations - the black on white was pretty standard.  Fred
listed a couple exceptions because of PRCo taking over WP trackage.  You
have the tape I made.  There is a view out the rear window going thru
the reverse curve outbound on 5th (with some Plymouth(?) trying to drive
underneath the trolleycar.  Check to see if there might be a Sunday Only
Car Stop sign hanging between the wires somewhere there!
	PRCo was extremely consistent in what it did - so the exceptions in
*Car Stop* signs were mimimal.  Consider how it painted the cars and how
consistently.  And PRCo took delivery of 566 PCCs before it made a minor
modification to the front end livery on the 17s!
	On page 10 of Smith's book is a square (rectangular) sign stating
*First Car* (black on white.)  This can also be found on page 21 and the
*Second Car* sign can also be seen.
	I know they had 1st and 2nd car signs at SHJ and just checked to see if
they are square - and they are.
	On page 29 is a larger square sign hanging between the inbound and
outbound wires (photo at the bottom.)  The trolley pole on 1475 is by
this sign and the front end is by the Car Stop sign so the square one
must be for some other reason.
	On page 28, notice the black on orange *Power Off* sign.  This is
placed by a section insulator which has a dead gap in it which the
operator should coast through.
	On page 49 top there is a Car Stop sign on the loop track off-street in
front of Craft Ave Car House!

> How many variations of the black letters on white background were there in
> Pittsburgh.

> Any help will be most appreciated.

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1940  --  1950
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