Various answers, corrections &c. ATTN: Jim Holland & John Swindler

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	Humhh der, Andyy - wonder how the linear distances compare so as to
figure grades.  Even Drake climbs out of Wash Jct., but much more
gently.  It must be easier by the route they took or they wouldn't go
that way.  Does your map show anything about the alignment south of
Drake?
	Unfortunately, using logic doesn't necessarily answer the question! 
--  Or we would have the line following Charleroi all the way from
Castle Shannon!  It seems that the distance from Drake to Kings School
or Simmons is much greater than Wash Jct to Hillcrest so there is much
more space to work out the grade.  Maybe we can determine that when you
take us on the tour!
	Still - if the current Drake / Washington line was used by the PS, I am
still confounded as to why this isn't mentioned in the construction
excerpts for the Washington line.

Donald Galt wrote:

> That acknowledged, it just doesn't seem that good a choice
> despite what Jim says. Washington Jct sits at about 1120 feet
> above sea level. From there, the Library line climbs to about 1230
> feet at Hillcrest and probably another 10 feet a bit farther south,
> then requires earthworks to cross the next valley before cresting
> again at about 1225 feet just north of Center Street. Then onward
> without major change in altitude to South Park Road, after which it
> is down the valley all the way to Library.

> Now, from Washington Jct (1120 ft, remember) the other route
> descends to 1000 feet at Drake, is then forced to climb to 1160
> feet at the junction of Logan and Patterson Roads, then down to
> 1040 at King's School. So locomotives would appear to have
> worked harder this way than they would have by going via
> Brightwood. No matter how you tackle it, you have to cross that
> ridge!

> So at least I'm not going to eat my crow without salt.

> D2

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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