[PRCo] PRC roster updates

[John Swindler]

With apologies to Derrick, this is intended primarily as additional data for 
Dave Hamley and Ed Lybarger.  However, there might be a couple others 
interested in PRC roster information.  The purpose is to provide information 
on PRC cars which were known to exist, but for which no scrapping 
information is available.  For the rest, let's just say that the delete key 
is to upper right on the keyboard.


As previously mentioned, Dave, PRC 1017 derailed and went over a 40 foot 
embankment near Kennywood, but apparently the damage was not sufficient to 
warrant scrapping as you mentioned that it was still around in 1907.  
However, the encounter of McKeesport car 144 with a B&O locomotive at the 
Second Ave. grade crossing in Glenwood on Jan 20th and the collision and 
torching of cars 1056 and 1064 on Murray Ave. at Forward Ave. on Jan. 30th 
accounts for their non-survival to the 1907 PRC renumbering.  So apparently, 
that's three "no record" problems solved.

Here are a few other possibilities:

PRC cars 384 and 371 got away on the Wilmerding grade and crashed at the 
terminal next to the Pennsy station on Jan 31, 1902.  Death toll was three 
passengers.

On 1 Jan. 1902 car 1038 got away on Linden Ave. in East Pittsburgh and 
crashed into 1081 and 1088. Motorman on 1038 suffered a crushed skull and 
was expected to die.  PRC 1038 is described as: "the sides were bulged 
completely open, every pane of glass shattered and the woodwork reduced to 
kindling wood."

On Jan 7, 1902, a fire truck collided with Bellevue car 472 at Penn and 
Ninth.  One horse was so badly injured that it had to be killed.  (why 
assume that fire trucks would have internal combustion engines?)

As an aside, we now know the first new service instituted by Pittsburgh 
Railways.  This was the "Shady and Grant" line on 6 Jan. 1902, and it 
warranted an eight min. headway.

By the way, where was the "West Penn Depot" in 1903?  No, it wasn't in 
Fayette or Westmoreland Counties, because West Penn Railways didn't exist in 
1903.  It was in the City of Allegheny, and was "abandoned and razed and 
space used for tracks of the Fort Wayne (PRR)."  (as part of Fort Wayne 
grade separation)(and something else I never knew)

Moving onto 1903, a runaway car on Evans Ave. on Jan. 1st injured 13, 
including a woman who went through the floor of the car between two motors.  
Unfortunately, no number given.  Perhaps another paper.

Also, no numbers given for two cars that collided on Dunshees Hill on single 
track Glassport line, the five children who snow sledded into a streetcar in 
McKeesport, the person who had his foot crushed by a trolley in Wilkinsburg, 
the Mt. Lebanon car that ran into a wagon near the Bell House, and the 
Rebecca car that hit a beer wagon.  So much for New Year's Day!

12 Jan 1903 was not a good day.  PRC 3114 lost its brakes and plowed into 
rear of car 38, which was standing on Frankstown Ave. at Homewood Barn, 
killing a policeman who "was crushed down under the controller box."  "It's 
sharp brass edge, almost as keen as a sword, cut his legs below the knees".  
The wreck is described as "car 3114 had jammed its way almost half way 
through the lighter one, maiming and injuring all in its path."

Also on this date, Pgh. McKeesport & Connellsville car 307 got out of 
control coming down Jenny Lind street hill and collided with car 17. Minor 
damage due to motorman on car 17 putting his car into reverse.

Finally, a sweeper got out of control on Troy Hill and crashed into a house 
at Perry and Wooster Streets.  A few minutes later, PRC 313 also got out of 
control, jumped the track at same spot, plowed into the sweeper and pushed 
it somewhat further into the house.    Is there a sweeper missing from the 
1907 renumbering???  How about car 313??

On Jan 26, 1903 Wilkinsburg car 96 ran away on Library St., Braddock and 
crashed into car 1039, "forcing the latter car through the front of a store 
(H. Friedberg clothing store) and injuring two persons".

All for now.

John

p.s.  Shady and Grant line:  via Fifth Ave., Shady Ave., Penn Ave., Highland 
Ave., Fifth Ave., Sixth Ave (High St.), Webster Ave. and Grant St. to place 
of beginning.  Did this become the "South Highland" line?

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