[PRCo] Re: T3 in Pittsburgh

[Edward H. Lybarger]

My mistake...Flinn was not the mayor, Chris Magee was.  But they were good
buddies, maybe even (silent?) partners.

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of
Edward H. Lybarger
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 5:21 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: T3 in Pittsburgh


Booth & Flinn (the latter was Pittsburgh's mayor for a while, I think)
monopolized city contracts by writing specifications that only they could
supply.  "Ligonier Stone," for example, was defined as having a particular
color, and conveniently happened to be readily available only from their
quarry near Long Bridge (a short distance west of Ligonier) on the Lincoln
Highway.  It was generic Loyalhanna Limestone (which in actuality was more a
sandstone than a limestone), but they had the market sewn up.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of
robert netzlof
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 9:43 AM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: T3 in Pittsburgh


--- John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Wasn't Second Ave. 'Belgium blocks'??

I always heard it as "Belgian blocks" (not that that is much
different) and yes, I believe Second Ave was.

> (and if anyone can explain the
> background on that term, I'd be glad to hear it).

Me too. As I understand it, most of the paving blocks used in
Pittsburgh came from Booth and Flynn quarries on the Chestnut Ridge
in Westmoreland County. I think I read somewhere that some folks
called them "Ligonier blocks" but I've never heard anyone call them
that.

It runs in my mind that Second Avenue was double track, while the
photo seems to be single track. That, and seeing the round
red-bordered sign on the second cross-arm, and then noting the odd
cross-arms...

By then I was well on my way to seeing through Boris' little
historical spoof.

> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Boris Cefer" <westinghouse at iol.cz>

> > > Does anybody remember this Tatra T3 being tested along 2nd ave
> blast =
> > > furnaces in Pittsburgh?
> > >
> > > Boris

http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/T3%20furnace.jpg

=====
Bob Netzlof a/k/a Sweet Old Bob




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