Fifty Years Ago

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	Many of you may know Dennis M. Linsky personally or from the email
lists.  He often makes postings to the effec of:  "This Day in History
XX Years ago" concerning trolleycars.  The following is what he sent me
personally::
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	At the other end of the Keystone State, it was 50 years ago that
Pittsburgh Railways went under new ownership.  Much was now happening. 
Route 9 shuttle trolley was abandoned, buses were now labeled
"Pittsburgh Railways," and routes 17, 20, and 81 were now bus.  Herron
Hill Car House was closed and transferred to the Way Dept.  Route 85
(Bedford Avenue) now operated from Craft Avenue and route 22 (Crosstown)
from Manchester barn.  Route 37 (Castle Shannon) now operated only
during rush hours, but with the Washington and Chaleroi cars still
running, route 37 cars were operating on 15-minute headways.  The
Pennsylvania State Highway Department has forced Pittsburgh Railways to
give up the Millvale Car Barn, placing the future of trolley routes 2
and 3 in great doubt.

    Very Sincerely,

    Dennis M. Linsky
    1350 East 5th Street, Apt. 3P
    Brooklyn, NY   11230-4686
    mailto:Dennismk1 at aol.com
    1/5/01
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	Many times the historical event is exactly 'to the day' but Dennis does
not specify that this time.  What specifically interested me is the
following quote from his email:

	"Route 37 (Castle Shannon) now operated only during
	rush hours, but with the Washington and Chaleroi 
	cars still running, route 37 cars were operating
	on 15-minute headways."

	The interurbans to Charleroi and Washington ran limited from Pgh. to
the loop at Castle Shannon outbound and the same inbound and these
interurbans displayed those Destination Signs.  Line-37 service ran all
day for local service.  Concurrent with the bankruptcy reorganization,
the interurbans began local service for the whole route, displayed
Shannon-Charleroi and Shannon-Washington Destinations, and of course,
the local 37-line was cut back to rush hour trippers only.

	Is  TODAY  the exact day of that changeover in 1951?

	OR was that changeover actually in November of 1950 when the 3800s and
the Brill 3700s were withdrawn from service?

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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