[PRCo] Re: West End - Part 4

[Matt Barry]

Yes, indeed!  
I'll try to do research on when PRC PCC 100 went into revenue service, 
officially, and when the first series of 1000's when into service.
Plus, I would like to dig  more into 56 McKeesport line history, and the 
68 McKeesport.   And a host of other subjects.  

Did you folks know/remember that Pittsburgh Railways was conducting a 
Miss Pittsburgh Railways pageant back in 1960 and offering "free ride 
days" at that time to drum up service?   There were also many reports in 
the papers that I noted stating that the trolley lines were running in 
the black, and this was very shortly before the PAT takeover..   I'll 
look more into.

matt


Edward H. Lybarger wrote:

>Thanks to Matt for digging this info out of the PTM Library.  I think he
>enjoyed his visit and that we'll see him back!
>
>Ed
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
>[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of Matt
>Barry
>Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 7:00 PM
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Subject: [PRCo] West End - Part 4
>
>
>The Pittsburgh Press, January 17, 1961.
> The Public Utility Commission today gave Pittsburgh Railways Co. final
>approval to run buses instead of trolleys on its West End lines.  Its
>also ordered the firm to remove rails and restore disturbed areas in
>five suburban Pittsburgh communities which objected to the conversion.
>
>Commission action, vigorously pressed by the City, clears the way for
>completion of the long-delayed State Highways Department work in the
>Point Park area in Pittsburgh.
>
> Delayed pending permanent approval of the bus operation was:
>
> 1.  Completion of the Penn-Lincoln Parkway Point interchange street
>pattern providing quick access between the Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne
>Bridges.
>
>2.  Needed improvements by the City and State in the affected West End
>area, particularly the resurfacing of W. Carson Street in the Fort Pitt
>Bridge area.
>
>3.  Completion of the eight million dollar State Point Park because part
>of the park area is occupied by trolley tracks.
>
> The PUC approved agreements under which the City, Allegheny County and
>Highways Department take over track facilities to be abandoned by the
>company.  They will be left in place and the City said it agreed to this
>arrangement to expedite completion of the Point Park improvement.
>
> The Railways company is directed to burn off or remove railheads at its
>own expense in the boroughs of Crafton, Ingram, McKees Rocks, Carnegie
>and Stowe Twp. In "absence of appropriate or controlling" agreements
>with the communities.
>
> In addition to removing poles and overhead construction not needed by
>other utilities, the company must burn off railheads imbedded in
>concrete, remove rails in block stone, brick and cinder surfaces and
>restore the torn areas with appropriate material.  Ties stay in place.
>
> An official deadline for the completion of the conversion work was set
>for Dec. 31, 1962, but the job is expected to be finished much sooner.
>
> The line was given temporary approval to substitute buses for trolleys
>on June 8, 1959, pending completion of hearings at which objections of
>the protesting communities were aired.
>
> Borough officials protested that no provisions were made for removal of
>rail facilities and repaving of the track strip in their streets.
>
> In addition to contending that trolley service is adequate they said
>numerous "potholes" created hazardous traffic conditions.  Company
>witnesses maintained, however, that they were caused by heavy motor
>traffic and not by trolleys.
>
> The record shows, the PUC said, that paving in the track areas
>"generally is in as good condition as in the adjoining shoulder pavement."
>
> Many of the recommendations by the borough engineers for restoration of
>the track areas, it added, "would impose greater obligations" on the
>company that its franchise or common law dictates.
>
>____________________________________________________________________________
>_________
>
> The following is a caption under a photo of a PCC being dismantled at
>Ingram.
>
>  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 4, 1961
>
>SCRAPPED - Old trolleys never die - they're just scrapped.  Workmen of
>the Iron and Metal Co. of Monongahela, Pa., are ready to swing half a
>trolley (PRC PCC #1097) aboard a trailer for the trip to the company's
>yards, where the trolley will be pounded into scrap.  All but four of
>the 29 trolleys consigned to scrap by the Pittsburgh Railways Co. have
>been dismantled at the Berry Street carbarn where picture was taken.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  
>