Brookline

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

John Swindler wrote:

> So tell me what's outlandish about this idea
> [of extending lrv into Brookline from the Overbrook line]
> and why I should forget about
> it?

	Nothing outlandish about it - but is it *fashionable?*  Remember the
history of getting to light rail today in Pgh - even *that* was not
wanted - it was forced upon PAT.  This was supposed to be
sky({[gutterliner]}) territoty, not rail!
	And even talk about rebuilding Overbrook was initially and officially
ridiculed for a *couple minutes* of saving in running time.
	But what about ridership - is there enough to warrant the construction
into Brookline?  Just an observation and honest question - rail is very
expensive and while it is enjoyable to ride, could it really be
justified - the extension into Brookline?  Or would the Brookline
extension be more like Buffalo - a boondoggle!  I do NOT have the answer
- just making observations and raising questions.  I do not want to
promote rail just because it is rail but because there is good reason
for it.
	I still believe it is possible that, once Overbrook is rebuilt, that
the routing of lrvs might revert to something akin to the old PRCo
system . . . for why do people from Library and SHV want to dawdle thru
Dormont and Beechview when going straight thru Overbrook will save
considerably more than a couple minutes.
	And once Overbrook is rebuilt with a direct connection to SHV, will
there be that much need to run the 42/38 (or whatever number it is now)
all the way to SHV?  Will there be a need to run it to Castle Shannon? 
Why not just terminate it at the old Clearview Loop except for rush
hours?  Or if it is run to Castle Shannon, terminate there and rebuild
the facilities when Overbrook is rebuilt for a more direct connection
for transfers.

	TECHNICALLY  speaking, this is all OFF--Topic as this is the PRCO - HTC
- WP list, and not ({[pat]})!!!:>)

> Was it once considered and rejected????

	Don't know.

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.mcs.net:80/~weyand/nmra/