[PRCo] Re: Rankin Car House - Munhall last run

[Bob Rathke]

I covered 22-Crosstown and the Second Avenue routes heavily in 1963-64, but
I seldom saw other trolley fans there at that time.  I was in Ohio during
the bus conversions on July 4 weekend in 1964.

Bob 2/26/04

-----------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Swindler" <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 1:29 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Rankin Car House - Munhall last run


>
> Hi Matt
>
> That's the trouble with trying to remember back 40 plus years......
>
> Pulled up a chart of streetcar line conversions, and it lists 22 Crosstown
> as 3 July 1964, and 55, 57 and 58 on 4 July 1964.  The 65 Lincoln Place
was
> converted on 5 Sept. 1965.
>
> And in trying to remember that night trip, assumed it was the last 65
car -
> but apparently instead, it must have been last route 55 car.  Yet I have
no
> recollection from that night on whether we looped at Munhall or E.
> Pittsburgh.  It's the 65 ride I remember (vaguely) and that I passed out
on
> the car inbound around 4am in West Homestead. (dozed off)
>
> I have a group of slides taken while walking the 58 Greenfield line
downtown
> almost to end of line near Murray Ave.   Did I take these on July 3rd
> mid-day before heading back downtown for a last couple rides on  22
> Crosstown car??  Possibly.  It was a sunny summer day.
>
> Another vague recollection from that day was that there were quite a few
> other railfans on Second Ave., but don't recall any during the 22
Crosstown
> pm rush hour.  Was anyone else on this list there???
>
> So going back to Fred the third's original question concerning owl cars:
> maybe I found out about that 55/65 owl trip on the last 58 trip in late
> pm????
>
> And the memory of being on the last Castle Shannon Incline down trip?
That
> was 20 June 1964.  Apparently my memory of these two events has merged
over
> the years.
>
> So apparently rt. 65 continued operating for another year after conversion
> of Second Ave. routes.  I was in high school in Pittsburgh's east end at
the
> time, but have no recollection of its continued operation.  Then again, my
> father started getting on my case during senior year;  preaching that I
> needed to stop 'playing with trolleys' - or I'd never be able to earn a
> living.  (:>)
>
> Strange how things work out. (Fred, Ed L., HHG or Jim can provide the rest
> of the saga)
>
> John
RR