West Penn Turnouts

[Edward H. Lybarger]

The terminal switches were electric.  Movies show one car after another
coming out, each going its own way.  They couldn't have moved traffic that
fast without electric switches, probably not even with a man (who I'm sure
wasn't in the budget!).

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
[mailto:owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org]On Behalf Of Jim Holland
Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2000 7:17 PM
To: PRCo -- WP -- JTC -- The Big *3* --
Subject: West Penn Turnouts


Greetings!

	Did the WP use any electric switches?  I don't see any evidence of such
in photos.  I am presently looking at the bottom photo on pg.9 of
*PA-Trolleys-In-Color--Pgh.-Region*  This is a 3-way turnout but because
the angle is low the trolleywire behind the car cannot be seen clearly.

	What about at *terminals* like in Uniontown and Connellsville where
there are several turnouts into and out of the terminal loops?  Were
these turnouts centrally controlled by the local dispatcher or did the
motormen set them themselves by hand?

	In the photo on pg.14 of the same book (above), the top photo shows the
Greensburg terminal and what *might* be a switch contactor just ahead of
287.

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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