[PRCo] Merry Christmas

[Bob Rathke]

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The attached photo is a reminder of Christmases past - when railroads elaborately decorated their stations, and when the parking lots were full of 3-ton automobiles waiting to pick up passengers at Midnight on Christmas Eve.

I took this photo of the Pennsylvania Railroad station in Pittsburgh in December, 1959.  The view is looking east from Grant Street and Liberty Avenue.  Surprisingly, many parts of the view haven't changed much in 42 years.

The 1958 Chevys - not to mention the old Ford - are gone now, but the station building and rotunda still exist as Historic Landmarks (the station was built in 1892).  The street-and track levels  have been rebuilt and serve Amtrak trains today, while the 12-story office building has been converted to apartments called the Pennsylvanian.  The color lights and tall Christmas tree are gone, but the rotunda is now lighted with white lights year 'round.

And...the name "Pittsburg" is still carved in the rotunda.

Have a very Merry Christmas 2001.

Bob