[PRCo] Re: Beaver___Valley___&___Butler

[Harold Geissenheimer]

Greetings

The 1924 McGraw Electric Ry Directory has this information:

New Brighton, Pa.  The Beaver Valley Traction Co.
office:435 6th Ave, Pgh.  Consolidation of many smaller
lines.

Pres: A W Thompson in Pittsburgh
Supt: C D Smith, New Brighton

Energy purchased from Duquense Light.
3 sub stations, 4 rot conv

Repair shops at New Brighton

Owns Junction and Morado Parks

32.8627 miles (19,0842 miles First track)
Also 3,3565 miles leased.

5' 2 1/2 gauge.

42 cars (32 one man, 8 service cars, 2 auto pass buses.)

Fare 5 cents per 2 mile zone

A W Thompson was also listed as PRC President..

The operation became the Beaver Valley Motor Coach Co.
which also controlled bus lines in Aliquippa, Ambrdge, Ellwood
City, Erie, Cumberland and  Elmira.  A unique feature is that
they manufactured their own buses known as Beavers for
both their own use and for sale to others.  They made about
100 buses a year at peak.  Some Beavers actually made it
all the way to the Port Authority.  The Beaver County Transit
Authority now operates there.

Harold Geissenheimer

Jim Holland wrote:

> Good Morning!!
>
>         Of course!   Forgot about Ben.   Doubt I have the book on Beaver but Ben's
> *PA--Traction*  book indicates the system was busted in 1941.   Had it hung on a
> little longer, WW2 might have saved it   ---   for a while!
>
>         This book also says that the system was under control of the Philly Co. from
> 1922 which also controlled PRCo and eventually other independents along the Ohio
> River.   Ben mentions that the Pittsburgh & Beaver St. Railway came under
> control of the Philly Co. in 1924!
>
>         Interesting to note that the Butler local lines went out in 1941 as well.
> *Seems*  that all the equipment in Butler was single--truck, even the 7--Birneys
> received in 1919--1920.
>
> > Edward H. Lybarger wrote:
>
> > There is a reprint of a Ben Rohrbeck book on the system available from the
> > PTM Store.  Don't know the price, or recall the abandonment date offhand.
>
> >> From: Jim Holland
>
> >>         Is there much available on the Beaver trolleycar lines?
> >> Have seen precious little in print with some indication that
> >> there was at least  *speculation* for
> >> joining PRCo and Beaver car lines.
> >>         When was the rail system abandoned?
>
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>
> James B. Holland
>
> Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation
>     "O"--Scale  St.-Petersburg Trams Company Trolleycars  &
>         "O"--Scale  Parts  mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
>         Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) http://www.pa-trolley.org/
>     Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
> N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.nmra.org
>
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