[PRCo] Re: PRC track construction near the B&O station

[Bob Rathke]

You're correct, Jim.  My comment referred to the trackwork changes being the result of
the construction of the Parkway, and the new road structures that became Ft. Pitt
Blvd. in that area. The demolition of the B&O station itself did not require any
trolley track changes, but the land occupied by the station in 1957 subsequently
became the site of the Parkway.  I remember the Grant St. rebuilding in 1958 because I
had to detour around Ross St. to get to the new (1957) B&O station; Ft. Pitt Blvd. and
the Parkway were probably part of that 1958 construction, but I was always to the east
of it.

I just checked the B&O RR Historical Society magazine ("The Sentinel", first quarter
1998).  The 23-page article on the old B&O station contains 29 photos.  There's a good
mid-1950s photo taken from the upper floors of a building near Wood St., looking east
toward the station.  All of the pre-Parkway trackwork is clearly visible, and there's
a PCC on the Smithfield St. Bridge.  There's also a 1915 view of the same scene, taken
from street level, and the trackwork appears to be the same as it was 40 years later.

In the mid-1950s photo, it appears that very little of the land occupied by the B&O
station would later be used for the new (1958) Ft. Pitt Blvd. roadway east of the
Smithfield St. Bridge; the taxi canopy that extended north from the station building
was the structure that would be directly in the path of the new Ft. Pitt Blvd. and
trolley tracks.  The B&O station's main building was south of the taxi canopy - right
where the eastbound lanes of the Parkway would be built.

The mid-1950s photo also shows the Union Bus Terminal being demolished.  This bus
station was diagonal from the B&O station, and the Blue Cross Building was later built
on that site.

Bob 7/4/01

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Jim Holland wrote:

       Most Definitely Was Affected.  New special work had to be built to turn

> from the bridge to the ramp heading to and from Grant.  This also
> affected the special work turning from Water to the bridge for the cars
> coming from Wood Street.  AND  service was maintained by trolleycar
> during the whole process!!
>         Track from Water from both directions  --  Grant and Wood  --  was
> placed on ties on the street surface as shoo--flys to run around
> construction of this special work for the new alignment.  This made for
> a rather unique connection with trackage on the bridge.
>