Bridges (Was Article from the old Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph)

[HRBran99 at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/27/00 1:16:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, twg at pulsenet.com 
quotes kjosephson as saying:

<< Considering the information presented in this discussion thread, did PAT
 consider retaining another bridge crossing just in case the Smithfield span
 had to be closed or perhaps if more serious weight restrictions had to be
 imposed? Ken J.
  >>

One interesting thing I noticed for many years during the early and mid 1970s 
was that every two or three months PATransit rail maintainence trucks would 
be checking the trackage along Second Avenue from Ross to 10th St. Bridge, 
the trackage on the bridge, and the trackage from 10th St, west along Carson 
to New Arlington. This even including welding sections of rail which were 
extremely worn. I never did ask why the always did this. There was no 
overhead wire in place along these stretches of rail. I first noticed this in 
1973 when going home from SHJct and crossing the 10th St. Bridge was held up 
because traffic was shifted to the right hand lane only do to welding of 
rails taking place on the Second Avenue end of the bridge. Still a mystery 
why PAT did this. They really could not use the tracks unless they strung 
overhead.

HrB