Missing Blocks of Car Numbers

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

> HRBran99 at aol.com wrote:

> Several of the operators at SHJ in the 1970s and 80s were operators
> who were
> former interurban operators working out of Castle Shannon when it was
> in
> operation.

	Who was still working there who had worked at Castle Shannon barn  -- 
didn't it close in 1932.  *Might*  be possible, but doesn't sound
realistic  --  think someone might have been giving you a long yarn!!

> "interurban" operators were
> considered
> higher in status than regular city operators. The training was more
> intense
> on the interurban lines what with a different type of car and such
> additional
> equipment as the 'trolleyphone', extra trolley pole, tool kit, etc.
> These
> operators were required to know more and do more in the event of an
> emergency
> or breakdown than a city service operator. The fact that they may
> break down
> miles from the nearest service facility or route foreman required that
> they
> had the knowledge and skill to start remedial action before a route
> foreman
> arrived in order to keep ser! ! vice operating.

	Good to emphasize these points again - there is a distinction for
various reasons.  Had forgotten about the pride and class distinction
from nearly 100--years ago!  We aren't allowed to say let alone think
such things today!!

> I am certain that to have that group integrated into the regular
> seniority
> list at SHJ would have caused problems with moral. So two lists were
> maintained until the end of interurban service.

	Was this in 1953 - when Charleroi and Washington were cut back to
Library and Drake?  These were still considered interurbans and the
equipment was most definitely segregated even into early  ({[pat]}) 
days.

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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