[PRCo] Re: Pittsburgh 7-Charles Street abandonment

[Edward H. Lybarger]

The 1902 consolidation was structured in such a way as to almost guarantee
financial failure, as it assumed eternal passenger growth, made no allowance
for depreciation, and enriched (for a while, at least) the holders of the
underliers' securities.  Nearly everything was a lease.  In the 1924
reorganization, a number of companies were disposed of, but it was not until
1950 that they all went away.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of John
Swindler
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 9:58 AM
To: stennyson at webtv.net; billvigrass at hillintl.com
Cc: 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
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Pittsburgh 7-Charles Street abandonment




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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