[PRCo] Fineview locations

[Bob Rathke]

Don,

I've checked a couple of old Gulf maps, one from 1973, and the other so old that it identifies the Fineview broadcast station as WWSW (it became the Channel 11 facility in 1957).  They show and identify many streets on Fineview, but there are also numerous short gaps in the streets, and some of these are probably the places where the tracks cut the corner, leaving a narrow roadway for auto traffic beside the trolley ROW.  I think you've identified the location of the1966 snow shot: it's on the northbound downgrade, near the north end of those reverse curves, and on my maps the location seems to be just south of Bark and Spiral Streets.  And, yes, the rough "street" was on the outboard (trolley door) side of the tracks.

I agree about the narrow condition of Lanark Street, but curiously, on my maps it's shown as one of the few straight-line, continuous streets on Fineview.

The upgrade track from Federal St. to Channel 11 was generally in paving that could be described as "streets", and most intersections had street signs.  On the other hand, north of Channel 11 the streets came and went, and some of them didn't have signs.

I rode and walked the line many times, and I tried to take photos every 100 ft. or so, but it's been 35+ years since then and I need to drive it again to identify the locations of those photos.

I lived on Spring Hill at that time, and so I was less than two miles from Fineview.  Spring Hill is across the East St. valley from Fineview, and in the fall and winter, we could see the Fineview trolleys running along the hillside among the trees.

Bob 4/5/02

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Don Galt wrote:

I'll hazard a guess that this snow shot was taken in Glenrose Street 
just short of the left bend into Hazelton Street, and that the drivable 
road is what we see angling in on the left. And that two or three of 
the other shots are taken along Wurzell Avenue, a couple of bends 
farther on and near the north end of the line.

As to passibility, Lanark Street likewise doesn't look all that inviting 
in your pictures. In fact, the USGS topo map of the '50s doesn't 
show Lanark Street as a road at all, just a trolley line. 
Cartographer's choice, I guess.

Back to the snow shot: if it's where I suggest, then the formed 
"street" - track would be more accurate - pretty much ran on the 
outboard side of the  carline in this area, and in fact was more 
ancient than the trolley. And indeed, the bus travels this very route 
today. Not very fast, mind you.