Thanks to Jim Holland

[Edward G Skuchas]

I visited the beer distributor about 20 years ago.  The long side of the trolley was oriented in the direction of the road.  The one side and both ends were still attached.  The other side was cut away from the ends and was reattached to the one end at the same spot but at a right angle. They owners built an extension to the building using the car side as one of the sides of the extension.  Most of the car body was covered over, but you could walk around the back side and see the exposed car side.  I believe that most of the car building was painted gray.  The inside of the ends were intact for the most part.  You definitely see its Osgood Bradley type end styling.  I suspect that if the building was removed from around the body, you could get the two sides and two ends.  The floor under framing would be questionable.  I do have a few slides of the car.  When I uncover them, I will eventually post them.

Regards,

ED
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Rathke 
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 8:11 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: Re: Thanks to Jim Holland


I drove by it last year, and the building was still there at that time.  Try to go
inside and see what it looks like.  If it looks good, buy yourself a beer there
(unless it's a drycleaners by now).

Bob 2/21


Derrick J Brashear wrote:

> On Tue, 20 Feb 2001, Bob Rathke wrote:
>
> > Derrick,
> >
> > Are you referring to the trolley used as a commercial building along Rt. 8 in
> > Allison Park?
>
> Yes.
>
> > I don't remember this trolley being used as a diner, but it could have been a
> > diner before 1961 which was the first time that I visited it. Its trolley
> > ancestry was clearly visible then, and  you could still see parts of the
> > trolley structure.  Over the years, that building has been expanded and
> > remodeled, and when I re-visited it a few years ago, it was being used as a
> > beer distributorship, and seemed to have lost all traces of being a rail car.
> > It's on the east side of route 8, near the bottom of the northbound grade that
> > starts in Allison Park.  North of this location, the road climbs up toward
> > Wildwood Road.
>
> I think I know where you mean. If I get some time I'll grab a few
> snapshots and stick them online.
>
> > There was also supposed to be a trolley used as a diner on old Route 19 on the
> > north side of Zelienople.  Back in 1960, a PERC member told me that he got the
> > route sign from this trolley, but I never saw it.  I vaguely remember the
> > diner from the late 1950's, but didn't associate it with a trolley.
>
> I'd assume it's gone, but it's been a while since I've been out there.
>
> Cursed lack of free time!
>
> -D