[PRCo] Re: HAVE YOU SEEN THESE?

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!!

	Robert  --  I was always under the impression that you were looking at
the mid--1950s and never did have the intention of including the back
switch.

	I have repeatedly stated over the last couple years that I believe that
the back switch was removed  *1954--and--later*  because of the
information below as well as photographic and video evidence.
	Bob Schmidt (One Of  THE  Listers!!(:->))  wrote about storing the
interurbans on the loop for County Fair Days  --  my assumption is that
they used the back track and switch to get to the loop to minimize
disruption of the Jct.  Even though the older interurbans were removed
from service by very late 1950, the low-floor cars remained for several
years yet and County Fair Days saw extremely heavy traffic on the
Charleroi--Library line up until the early 1960s.  The interurbans were
truncated at Library and Drake in June and August of 1953 respectively. 
So I believe the back track switch remained that long.
	Additionally, the track work for Drake loop, the new first siding on
Drake, and the 2--new--sidings on Overbrook were all completed in 1954
which also suggest about this date for removing the back switch.
	Additionally, the back switch was RR type points, both of them, and
these could be used on either end of one of the new sidings.
	IT seems it is Fall of 1953 and later when that switch was removed.  I
have photos of it up until July of 1952, maybe later, and can see it in
some videos where cars are sporting temporary Drake signs which indicate
later--1953!!

	Don't know about paving  --  will check some pictures later.

> Dietrich, Robert J. wrote:

> Well you guys just zeroed in on the time frame for my junction. I've been
> shooting for the early fifties, but you're telling me it must be Fall 1952
> or later.  I only have the inbound track in my module, and I have no
> intention of adding the outbound track.

> Now come up with some more information about the roads and parking lots
> around the back of the administration building.  What was cobblestone? Was
> anything redbrick?  How much was gravel?  When did it get paved with
> Allegheny Asphalt?

-->>-->>---->>-->>---->>-->>---->>-->>---->>-->>---->>-->>--

> From:   SaturnV at webtv.net [mailto:SaturnV at webtv.net]

> You are correct, Sir, and the "back track" was removed following
> discontinuation of loop storage service for the Allegheny County Fair
> cars about 1952..

-->>-->>---->>-->>---->>-->>---->>-->>---->>-->>---->>-->>--

> From: Jim Holland <pghpcc at pacbell.net>

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1181309371

> ROBERT---DIETRICH   ---   this photo clearly shows the turnouts into the
> outbound track from the back track behind the admin building.   I have
> photos which show this turnout about 1952.   My suspicion is that this
> was removed  *sometime*  after the interurbans were cutback late summer
> of 1953.
>         Remember the personal story from one of the listers on how
> interurbans would be store on the loop under the 44//48--lines?  
> My  *suspicion* is that the equipment left the yard and went
> up the back track to that loop to minimize
> disruptions thru SHJ proper!!

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

James B. Holland

Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation
    "O"--Scale  St.-Petersburg Trams Company Trolleycars  &
        "O"--Scale  Parts  mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
        Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) http://www.pa-trolley.org/
    Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.mcs.net:80/~weyand/nmra/

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤