[PRCo] Re: Scrapped PCCs

[Fred Schneider]

I really don't know, Harold.  All I remember are all sorts of notes in the route cards about route reassignments to
other divisions on account of the collapse.  There may be a clipping and EHL may decide to tell you when he gets home
from his weekend at Branford.

Harold Geissenheimer wrote:

> Fred
> thanks for information.  I did not know of the 1937 incident.
>
> Where was the damage?  At the circle or out over the river?
>
> The bridge structure was fragile at best!
>
> I moved to Pgh in 1950
>
> Harold
>
> Fred Schneider wrote:
>
> >You may or may not be aware, Harold, that there are two distinct events with the Rankin Bridge.   One was the
> >partial collapse in 1937 because Pittsburgh Railways ran an overloaded work car onto it.  The other was the 1950
> >replacement which you cited here.
> >
> >Harold Geissenheimer wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>Boris and Fred
> >>Part of the Rankin saga was the building of the replacement Rankin Bridge.
> >>
> >>PRC retained rail service and built track on the Rankin side on sidewalks
> >>while the bridge was under construction.  PRC did a good job of working
> >>with the county to keep the trolleys running.
> >>
> >>Boris...are you familiar with the old Rankin Bridge which included a
> >>traffic circle (rotary) on structure?
> >>
> >>Harold Geissenheimer
> >>
> >>Fred Schneider wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>I have several color slides of cars being scrapped on the plot at Warrington Avenue circa 1966.  You may see
> >>>them when you  come here.  I have no scanner.
> >>>
> >>>I never bothered to investigate Rankin car house when the 76 cars (mostly 1200s) were being scrapped
> >>>there.    Beginning with the 1937 collapse of part of Rankin Bridge, the car house was isolated and
> >>>schedules and crews working from it were reassigned to other divisions.  (Notice how nicely I got out of
> >>>trying to figure out which divisions?)  Rankin was never again served operating cars; when access was
> >>>restored it was used to store cars excess to normal demands of the company.
> >>>
> >>>Rankin was an old facility and was entirely under roof.  Therefore my suspicion is that cars were either cut
> >>>in two inside and hauled away, or were hauled off as complete bodies.  Therefore, Boris, you may never find
> >>>what you desire.
> >>>
> >>>Rankin was a rather intriguing place because all the oldest cars were hidden down there as protection
> >>>against future traffic peaks.  For the most part, each route closure meant that cars hidden in the dark
> >>>interior at Rankin would be scrapped and slightly newer cars would be taken there to wait for their ultimate
> >>>demise.  It was the sort of a place where elephants go to die.  Charlie Dengler took a few pictures inside
> >>>it ... a medley of relics any of us would love to have at Arden today ... a single truck passenger car that
> >>>had been converted to a sand car, the last low-floor single end Jones cars, a floor full of 5100 series
> >>>low-speed, multiple-unit cars no longer needed because World War II had ended.
> >>>
> >>>Boris Cefer wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Hello, folks!
> >>>>Does anybody have photos of Pgh PCC bits and pieces at Braddock scrapyard or other photos of PCC wrecks?
> >>>>
> >>>>I would accept mid resolution scans.
> >>>>
> >>>>Boris
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >