[PRCo] A reading from the sacred scrolls

[Fred Schneider]

Recorded in the Sacred Scrolls:

The first route card for 312 Beechview (42 Dormont) is schedule number
00052 dated in December 1904 (no specific date was recorded).
The route was given as, "From Castle Shannon via Private R. of W. to Mt.
Lebanon, to West Liberty Jct. to Tunnel (via Beechview),
Smithfield St., Liberty Ave, Union Sta. (Terminus.  Same return."  The
later downtown route in on Smithfield to 7th, then out on Grant
appeared June 18, 1906.  The base headway in 1904 was 30 minutes.  It
built up to 7 1/2 minute rush by 1909.  In 1915 they wre running a
3 3/4 minute rush frequency.  Improved by 15 seconds by 1925.  In the
depression they were down to a 1 minute rush hour headway.  Of
course this all relates to development of the area after people had a
way to get in and out.

The first 38-A card dates to August 28, 1921.

The first 304 Mount Lebanon and Castle Shannon (you know it as 38) card
dated to February 1903.  The line worked out of Hilltop
Carhouse.  Route was, "From Mt. Lebanon thru Scott Township, West
Liberty Boro, Washington Ave., Brownsville Ave., Carson St.,
Smithfield St., Liberty Ave to Union Depot.  Same return.  Feb. 2, 1903
consolidated with 310 Castle Shannon and Mt. Lebanon transfer.
Service through the tunnel began Dec. 1, 1904.  Rush hour headways
improved from 18 minutes in 1903 to 2 minutes in 1933.

The Charleroi route began by cobbling together independent operators
such as the Monongahela city operation, which was integrated in
1903.  May 26, 1903 and before was running all the way from Riverview to
Allenport.  Sept. 12, 1903 there was service from Castle
Shannon to Allenport (note the route card doesn't say from Pittsburgh).
oCT. 10, 1903, "From Pittsburgh Incline via Washington
Avenue and West Liberty (lower line) to Castle Shannon and Allenport.
Dec. 1, 1904, : From 3rd and Wood St. (Pittsburg) through Mount
Washington Tunnel using private r. of 2. to West Liberty Junction, to
Castle Shannon to Allenport via upper line.   Note that this is the
first
service through Beechview and defines when you want to look for track
changes.  August 15, 1906, cars were back on the "lower
line" or West Liberty Avenue as you know it today.  The initial
operation through Beechview lasted 20 months.  July 14, 1909, inbound
cars
began using the route through Cooley (Cooley stop was north of Castle
Shannon on the 37 Shannon line).  On November 1, 1909, the
outbound cars were shifted over from route 38 onto the new track down
Saw Mill Run valley.

Now you'ns can go back to looking for maps.  You now know what years you
are looking for.  You need a track plan covering December
1904 to October 1906 to prove how they got through Dormont Junction.

And Jim, how does this compare with ERA Headlights?  This may be
incorrect.  I could have typed it imperfectly.  Or the route cards may
also be wrong.

Fred Schneider