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

[John Swindler]

>Jim Holland commented:
>
>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?



I'm open to possibility that, south of Castle Shannon, Pittsburgh Southern 
passed to west of St. Ann's School, not east as does trolley line, and was 
climbing, and then was on hillside where cemetery is currently near 
Washington Jct., and was first parallel street west of Drake/South Hills 
Village right of way to Highland Road, then was on Drake line to vicinity of 
Walthers/Drake Loop, then curved to south to head towards 
Library/Finleyville, with 50/50 possibility that it was on Montour RR line 
to Library, or else picked up Charleroi line around Kings School.  Nothing 
but pure speculation.  Need more data.


>	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.



Need more data.



>	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.
>


Unfortunately, author was not a railfan writing for our benefit.

Speaking of non-railfan authors, I guess checking for 20th century county 
history books on Westmoreland-Fayette-Cambria counties may also be in order.

John

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