[PRCo] Re: Transfers___Specials___Throats

[Fred Schneider]

I have no idea during what period the throat transfer was used but Jim's
basic notation was correct.   This system of free transfers and throat
transfers extended the city fare zone across downtown to throat limit on
every line on the other side.   It allowed the rider free access to any
part of downtown even if he or she needed to change cars to get there.

Regular transfers were valid within a given geographic area, such as West
End, North Side, South Hills, and to a downtown zone limit on the opposite
side of downtown.  Throat transfers were given only on inbound cars within
the Downtown limit to extend the ride to the end of the first fare zone on
the other side of the city.  And special transfers were valid from the
outside end of zone 1 on one side of the city to the outside edge of zone
1 on the other side of the city.  While transfers and throat transfers
were free, specials and round trip specials were not free.

I cannot remember all of the throat limits and I suspect that I chucked
the transfer collection years ago so I cannot even research it.  The
downtown limit on the south side was Carson Street.  The downtown area
went out Sandusky and Federal streets on the North Side as far as North
Avenue.  Where it was on the 2nd, 5th, Forbes, Center, Butler, and West
End trunks is beyond me.  I never used them.

Let's use an inbound 8 PERRYSVILLE CAR as an example.  All the way from
Keating Carhouse, in Perrysville Avenue, and Federal Street to the
Henderson Street stop, any passenger requesting a transfer would be given
just that ... a transfer.  It would be valid on any other North Side
lines. It would also be valid for short rides on the other side of town
... for example to Smithfield and Carson but not to South Hills
Junction.   When the 8 car reached North Avenue, any one requesting a
transfer would now be given a throat transfer, and it would be valid to
almost anywhere in the city.  Now let's go the other way.  Any one getting
off an outbound car on Federal Street up to North Avenue only needed a
transfer (or cash).  But from Henderson Street on out to Keating barn, an
alighting passenger paid cash or needed a transfer from a north side route
or a throat transfer from other routes outside the north side or a special
transfer from anywhere in the city.

The SPECIAL was used from any point beyond the throat limit on one side of
town to any point in the first fare zone on the other side of town.  Good
example, if you wanted to go from St. Anne's Convent in Castle Shannon to
Perrysville and East Streets, you bought a special.  And, if you planned
to return, you bought a round trip special.  The round trip consisted of a
green paper special transfer for the first journey, and an untimed green
cardboard return ticket, which was traded to the motorman or conductor on
the first return car for another paper special transfer.   Of course the
special transfer was torn on a transfer cutter to a prescribed time ... I
suspect it had to allow 90 to 120 minutes, particularly if you were using
it to East Pittsburgh or Kennywood.  I have no idea when the special
originated, but the term was in my mother's vocabulary (she was born in
1909 and never rode a streetcar in Pittsburgh after 1949).

Ed Lybarger once told me that Washington, Pennsylvania had its own
tokens.  I have no idea what their transfer limits were but I suspect
that, at least until 1952, there was no validity on the interurban beyond
the end of the Jefferson Avenue line at Tylerdale, if only because city
tokens were not accepted on interurban cars at the Pittsburgh end until
1952.

Maybe someone on the list can convince John Swindler to research all the
tariffs in the PUC docket room.  Of course one needs to understand that
the PUC denizens are hospitable only to lawyers and then only because they
have to.  Both EHL and JS have had some run ins with those people, who do
whatever is necessary to avoid serving the general public.  One once told
Ed he would have to come back later to pay for xerox copies because it
wasn't her job to be bothered with money.

I would like to see a complete dosier on PRC tariffs.



Jim Holland wrote:

> Good Morning!
>
> PRCo____1950s____ONLY    ({[NOT---pat]})
>
> Three basic types of  *Transfers*  listed below with basic
> discussion  --  Please Correct, Add, etc. to fill out picture and
> // or description:::::::
>
>         1.>--   Transfer
>
>         2.>--   Special
>
>         3.>--   Throat
>
> 1.>--   TRANSFER:
>
>         A.>--   Free with Fare.
>         B.>--   Specific Transfers for:
>                 1.)--   Inbound - pre-stamped on transfer.
>                 2.)--   Outbound - pre-stamped on transfer.
>                 3.)--   AM
>                 4.)--   PM
>                         *PM* a tear-off stub which
>                         was removed by operator when
>                         issuing AM transfers.    So if
>                         patron receives a valid PM
>                         transfer he better make sure
>                         the PM does Not Tear Loose!
>         C.>--   Time listed in half-hour segments.
>         D.>--   ""Not Good On Route Notched.""
>                         printed on face of transfer.
>         E.>--   ""Good Only on Date Issued until Latest
>                         Time Shown.""  Printed on face.
>         F.>--   Used within district  --  i.e., South
>                 Hills Transfer only good in South Hills.
>
>         G.>--   ??--Length of time allowed on transfer
>                 from time of issue??
>
> 2.>--   SPECIALS:
>
>         A.>--   Basic Fare plus tariff for Special,
>                 *about*  20-30% of Base Fare.
>         B.>--   *B*  thru  *E*  above apply.
>         C.>--   Good between Districts; i.e.,
>                         South Hills to North, East, West.
>
>         D.>--   ??Length of time for which issued??
>
> 3.>--   THROAT:
>
>         A.>--   Same As Special but issued within
>                 very-limited radius from downtown.
>                 *Possibly*  free with fare since
>                 passenger is close to town??
>
>         Since a Transfer // Special could Not be used for line notched
> it would not be possible to roundtrip.    Transfers and Specials
> basically inbound to outbound but with exceptions.    Inbound
> passenger on 35 thru 48 could stop at South Hills Jct to purchase
> tokens etc. and then reboard inbound to continue trip.
>
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>
> Waiting for a bus is as thrilling as fishing,
>     with the similar tantalisation that something,
>         sometime, somehow, will turn up.
>             George Courtauld
>
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>
> James B. Holland
>
> • Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation.......
>   "O"--Scale St.-Petersburg Trams Company (SPTC)
>         Trolleycars and "O"--Scale  Parts
>                 including Q-Car
>         mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
>
> • Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
>         http://www.pa-trolley.org/
> • Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),
>         1930  --  1950
> • N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190;
>         http://www.nmra.org
>
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>