JTC

[Derrick J Brashear]

On Tue, 19 Sep 2000, Jim Holland wrote:

> Greetings!
> 
> 	Too exhausted to compose a good JTC question or observation tonight 
> --  but you can still give us some of the official history, John!

Well, how about...

I've not done the supporting research, yet. I went to the Glosser Library
in Johnstown about 5 years ago with the intention of finding the right
areas to poke around, assuming there were any "right areas" there, and got
side-tracked once inside the library. Haven't been back in, and one of
these days I really should... anyhow...

-they seemed to have a case of indecision. they weren't really ready to
abandon the rail system (witness the oakhurst line being useable for many
years after it was officially in service, or so i understand it, and the
relaying of rail in the new Maple Avenue bridge on the Franklin line) yet
they used the 1959 steel strike to axe Coopersdale... maybe they knew it
was coming by 1959, and weren't sure earlier, but other research points at
an economic downturn beginning as early as 1957; perhaps it was more
protracted or its effect on the steel industry more profound than was
forseen at the time. 

but when they finally decided it was the end for the rail cars, electric
trolleybus service soldiered on for 7 more years, so they didn't get to
cast off the somewhat expensive and certainly taxable infrastructure yet
anyhow.

this has always been somewhat mind-boggling, but i expect when i have time
to go read i will find and know the answer

-D