[PRCo] Re: 1936___Flood

[Donald Galt]

On 1 Mar 2004 at 10:53, Jim Holland wrote:

> 	"""On St.Patrick's day in 1936 Pgh. suffered one
> of its most devastating floods.    On Monday, March 16,
> the waters rose to 21.7-feet; two days later they
> had risen to 46-feet.......       ."""
> 
> 	Is It Recorded as to how much was under water?
> 

The normal pool elevation at Pittsburgh is shown as 710 feet above sea level. 
IF the water level really rose to 46 feet above that (a big if!) then the 760-
foot contour on maps offers an approximation of the shoreline.

Liberty and Penn in the Triangle - pictures show them flooded. And eastward to 
about 33d Street. Perhaps bits of Butler Street as well.

Considerable portions of the North Side, but in general not quite to Ohio 
Street. On the other hand, portions of East Ohio Street, Millvale, Etna, 
Sharpsburg and Aspinwall would probably have been under water unless protected 
by dykes.

Manchester car house was below the line. And the entirety of Neville Island. 
Chartiers Creek valley would surely have been flooded nearly up to Carnegie, 
though not necessarily affecting PRCo operations. Possibly in the low-lying 
areas of McKees Rocks.

South Side? Awash beyond Carson Street in places. Glenwood carhouse appears to 
be quite safe, but I'm less sure about the south end of Glenwood Bridge at the 
mouth of Street's Run.

Rankin carhouse? probably safe. And though pictures show the Turtle Creek 
valley flooded, probably streetcars were not affected.

Again, the above estimates of flooding are based upon the 760-foot contour and 
MAY WELL BE GREATLY EXAGGERATED!

Don