[PRCo] Re: Beeses vs Trolleycars

[Jim Holland]

> John Swindler wrote:

> Interesting differences in perspectives.
> So much PRW?????  Not in the east end where I grew up.  But then Jim hails
> from the Dormont area, and I feel so ancient talking with Derrick who is of
> a younger generation that only remembers the South Hills.

	This has to do with Einstein's Theory--of--Relativity  --
it is all relative - relative to E. Pgh., the South had much prw.  It is
also Relative to other cities  --  like SF with a small portion on the
J- & K-lines and some center of the highway prw on the M  --  makes PRCo
look like the PRR mainline!!
	In 1978, a couple local--yokel SF trolleycar fans made a swing thru
several systems in the East including Pgh.  One had been before; first
trip for the other.  I could sense that the 'other' did not like Pgh.
and just found out within the last couple years that they took a ride on
the Interurban from downtown.  Tunnel was ok, but of course there was no
more street running!  And the 'other' said:  "Don't like this  -- 
streetcars are supposed to run on the streets!"

> So from my perspective (as a post-war baby boomer), PRC was primarily a city
> streecar system serving numerous outlying communities, often based on the
> steel economy.  Oh, and it also had a bit of prw on a couple lines, such as
> 56, 10/15, 87, 42 and 35/36.  But 6, 8, 13, 18, 19, 21, 22, (I was too young
> for west end), 38, 39, 40, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 77/54, 55, 57, 58, 64,
> 66, 67, 71, 73, 75, 76, 82, 85, 88, 94, 95, 96, and 98 were city street
> lines.

	Most definitely beg to disagree with the above.  Tunnel itself will not
be included as prw (even though it is prw) but certainly the ride down
thru the yard qualifies as prw, Yes??  How many car lines in Pgh. did
that - autos couldn't travel down there (with exception of PRCo shop
trucks - but then they can travel prw anywhere if they wish!)  Then
there is the long Palm Garden Trestle  --  1,000--feet  --  and the
trolleycar only ramp from W. Liberty Ave!  No autos on all this!
	So I  ADD  the following with prw - 38, 39 (which also had some center
of the highway prw, double track, Brookline Blvd., as well as a stretch
of single track prw at the end to the loop), 40-line leaving SHJ, also
44-48, and 47.
	The 8-Perrysville had about 1/2--mile prw at the end down behind
Perrysville Ave which also includes the rush hour only 11.  The 55-line
had a 1-2--mile or better side-of-the-road-prw along Braddock.  You left
out the 65 above which had a short-block of prw shared with the 56- as
well as an off-street siding at this location so a Lincoln-Place bound
car could wait for the single track to clear.  And the 68-line had prw
beside Duquesne Blvd thru Kennywood Park.
	I think we have to say that 56-line had more than a *bit* of prw!(:->)

	I like to think of PRCo about 1950 when most everything was still
intact so we also have to include 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30!  So let's
revise the list::

	PRCo--PRW:::::::    8, 10, 11, 15, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, Castle
Shannon, Charleroi, Washington, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 55, 56,
60 (when extended thru Kennywood), 62, 65, 68, 78?, 87.

	PRCo--Non--PRW:::::::    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 32, 34, 49, 50, 53, 57, 58, 60 (when not
extended to Kennywood), 64, 66, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 76, 77/54, 78?, 82,
85, 88, 94, 95, 96, 98.

	Granted, some sections of prw are short.  Still, a mighty impressive
showing of prw.  Relative to most other Streetcar systems, it  *seems* 
that PRCo had quite a bit, more than most!(:=>)

Just a gentle reminder of what was.

> John

-- 
James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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