Fifty Years Ago

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	Excellent point.  Think that Dennis gets his information from issues
of  *ERA Headlights*  for that date so he is depending on information
supplied to them.
	There were just the 2-lines that extended along E. Ohio Street for any
length, 2-Etna and 3-Millvale.  Do you know what ridership was like
then?

> Edward H. Lybarger wrote:

> I think history will confirm that the Pennsylvania Department of Highways
> gave Pittsburgh Railways the option of buying into the East Ohio Street
> upgrade, of course at greater cost than the company could ever recover
> through operations.  The use of the word "forced" may be misunderstood...it
> was the economics that was compelling, not just another government doing in
> another trolley line.

> Ed

>> Jim Holland wrote:

>>         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::
>> =================================================

>>         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
>> =================================================

>>         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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