[PRCo] Re: Pittsburgh 7-Charles Street abandonment

[John Swindler]

Hi Ed

Yes, rt. 7 Charles St. was the PCC operated route to downtown, rt. 9 was the 
double-end shuttle route over .625 miles of mostly single track, and rt. 8 
was another downtown route, on Perrysville Ave.

Was somewhat surprised to see that the route numbers were not cast in 
concrete.  There is also a 1950 PUC application that mentions rt. 9 bus line 
- think it was for Bellevue or Avalon.  It is described in one of the 
folders at PUC docket A-76720.  Also, John Bromley has a route listing from 
1920s(?) that gives a 7-Charles St. (to downtown), 7-Charles St. shuttle, 
8-Perrysville, and 9-Charles-Perrysville.  From Bromley's description, 
sounds like 8 was the main route to East St. or Keating, and 9 was a 
significant Perrysville Ave. short turn at Charles.  Same seems to have 
applied for 42 and 43; 64 and 66; 55, 56 and 57; 68 and 69; 10 and 11; and 
perhaps 18 and 19.  In the case of 43 and 66, the longer route was single 
track beyond Neeld Ave. and Coal St., respectively.

I used the word "significant" short turn on purpose.  That's because we have 
forgotten where the farm houses were located.  Much that to us looks like 
older built up urban areas was the suburban sprawl in the pre-WW I years, 
made possible by the street railway.

Back to PUC docket A-76729 and a question for you and Harold.  Curious about 
your recollections of the 1950 PRC reorganization because this docket is 
discribed as "application of Pittsburgh Railways Company for approval of 
incorporation through consolidation of 55 companies comprising present 
Pittsburgh Railways Company system."

This was another surprise because was always under impression that a big 
consolidation occurred in 1903 to create Pittsburgh Railways Company.  But 
apparently such was not the case.  Was the 1903 consolidation primarily 
leases rather then purchases?  And thus there may be additional PUC actions 
filed under the underlying companies rather then strictly Pittsburgh 
Railways?

I have this sinking feeling that I'm opening another 'can of worms'!!!

John





>From: stennyson at webtv.net (Shirley Tennyson)
>To: billvigrass at hillintl.com (Vigrass, Bill)
>CC: j_swindler at hotmail.com ('John Swindler'), 
>pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org, ALLMANR at aehn2.einstein.edu, 
>rwan at dejazzd.com, csiebert at paonline.com, elmerfry at desupernet.net, 
>JacksoRE at STVINC.COM, billvigrass at hillintl.com (Vigrass, Bill)
>Subject: RE: Pittsburgh 7-Charles Street abandonment
>Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 23:14:45 -0400 (EDT)
>
>   I think (foggy memory) that you have the route numbers wrong. Route 7
>Charles St. was  the PCC car route after the slow speed low-floor cars
>were retired. Route 9 was the Transfer with old double end 4200's.
>Route 8 was busy Perrysville Avenue, a major route, with which #9
>connected.
>E d   T e n n y s o n
>

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