[PRCo] Re: Rankin C.B.

[Fred Schneider]

So was the entire town of Rankin.

Bob Rathke wrote:

> The front of Rankin Car Barn was open, but blocked by a chain link fence.
> In 1965-66 I tried to photograph stored PCC's in the barn, but there was
> very little light inside.  The entire location was dismal at that time.
>
> Bob 2/22/04
>
> -----------------------------
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred Schneider" <fschnei at supernet.com>
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 4:53 PM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Scrapped PCCs
>
> > 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
> >
> >
> >