[PRCo] Re: Route 9 Transfer

[John Swindler]

Further to route 9 Charles Street Shuttle (to give it its' 1950 name), 
looked through the PUC index for Pittsburgh Railways, from A-1710 of 1917, 
which established five days notice for an increase in rates of fare, to 
A-93067 of 1966 (so you thought PRC was out of transportation business in 
1963!) which transferred Blacks's Bridge in Crafton to PAT.

But first, here's a "trick" question for all you Pittsburgh Railways 
experts:  When was street railway service on route 20 Rebecca and the 
Reedsdale shuttle abandoned????


Now onto Charles St. shuttle:

Abandonment of street railway service on PRC route 9 is at applicatin 
A-77283 of 1951.  The application, as notarized by C. D. Palmer on 15 April 
1951, claims that: 1) patronage is limited; 2) There are no turning 
facilities for modern equipment; and 3) Alternate service is available on 
bus route 220 City View which operates over same route.

PUC hearing on this application held on 23 April 1951.

Effective 28 March 1951 service was every 15 minutes between 7:04am-8:43 am 
and between 4:12 pm-5:55pm.  Previously it was 15 min. service during the 
entire day.  Testimony mentioned that streetcar service averaged 1.5 to 3.2 
passengers per trip per day.

Why 15 minutes service:  Because "custom to operate the service as 
frequently as could be operated with one man".

Testimony proposed keeping track on Charles St. between Perrysville Ave. and 
Irwin Ave. for use on routing cars on 7 Charles St. (pull-out??) and 
emergency purposes.

City View bus operated over entire route and ran on 30 min. headway.

Further testimony from R. D. George, Chief Analyst, PRC.

Operating results for route 9-Charles St. Shuttle for 1950:  Revenue: $ 
8,038; Incremental operating expense (motorman, car maintenance, power, no 
depreciation): $20,762

Revenues 1947:  $12,206;  1950: $8,038  (downward trend)

A chart listed riders per trip over several weeks.  Highest number was 20 
riders on an 8:30 am trip on a Friday. Most trips were 1-3 riders.

On 28 Aug 1951 PUC approved PRC petition to abandon service on "Charles 
Street Shuttle", with condition that PRC remove, by 31 Dec 1953, track and 
overhead from public streets and repave.

On 15 Dec 1953 PRC filed petition to amend PUC order of 28 Aug 1951, stating 
in para 4 "that the record in the proceeding establishes that it is 
necessary for the applicant (PRC) to retain in operation the street railway 
facilities involved for purpose of emergency routing and chartered car 
movements".

On 8 Feb 1954 PUC amended to 31 Dec 1956 the conditions for track removal in 
their order of 28 Aug 1951.

No further record this application.

(so now I guess next you'll want a newspaper account of the last day of 
service???)

John


p.s. As for "trick" question on abandonment of route 20 Rebecca and 
Reedsdale Shuttle street railway service:

At A-77998 of 1951 PRC petitioned for temporary discontinuance of Reedsdale 
Shuttle (Galveston and Shore via Shore, General Robinson to Federal St. and 
return).  At A-77999 of 1951 PRC petitioned for temporary discontinuance of 
20 Rebecca (Beaver & Island (Manchester Car House) via Beaver, Reedsdale, 
Allegheny, Shore, Manchester Bridge, Duquesne Way, Fancourt St. Penn Ave., 
Barbeau, Duquesne Way ramp, Manchester Bridge, Galveston, Reedsdale, Beaver 
to Beaver/Island).

In 1959 Pgh Ry went back to PUC at A-86557 to formally abandon street 
railway service on 20 Rebecca and the Reedsdale shuttle.

Just thought you would like to know!

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