[PRCo] Re: Broadway, Dormont

[Boris Cefer]

Was it Broadway, or West Liberty avenue?

Boris

----- Original Message -----
From: "James B. Holland" <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 6:56 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Broadway, Dormont


> That video made in Canada of PCCs across North America  (from 16mm color
> film)  shows some New Looking 1200s on Broadway  --  and 12s arrived in
> 1940.
>
>
> Edward H. Lybarger wrote:
>
> >Broadway Avenue was double-tracked in 1940.  Somewhere I once saw a
photo,
> >but am not certain where at this writing.
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
> >[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of James
> >B. Holland
> >Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2005 5:53 PM
> >To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >Subject: [PRCo] Re: Station square
> >
> >
> >Hi Bill!
> >
> >
> >You are referring to the portion in the center of Broadway in Dormont
> >from Potomac north (inbound) to  *near*  Wenzell overpass.       I have
> >often wondered the same.       A little historical perspective here.
> >
> >The Charleroi interurban inbound from Castle Shannon travelled the 38A
> >to Mt.Lebanon, then the 42 Dormont inbound to downtown    ----
> >Washington interurban not yet operating  --  and all this up until about
> >1907-1908 or there abouts!       Apparently the Whole of the 42-Dormont
> >was prw with center of the highway prw through Beechview.       Much of
> >this was single track with sidings; in fact, the Dormont wye area was
> >one long siding from the wye inbound almost to Biltmore Ave, the first
> >grade crossing.
> >
> >We haven't had much luck tracing out the actual date for double tracking
> >of the line, but Geodetic maps we found on the internet apparently
> >indicate that the double track prw was still intact on Broadway in
> >Beechview until approx the 1930s.       It Is Very  *Possible*
> >(*Possible*  the operative word)  that the paving of Broadway in
> >Beechview was a Depression Era Public Works project.       And it is
> >*Possible*  that the same is true of paving Broadway in Dormont as you
> >mention.
> >
> >Doesn't answer your  *Why*,  does it??!!! :-)       Very Possible that
> >concrete gives a much more stable base and keeps track in very good
> >alignment much better than open prw which requires tamping and
> >realignment,  NOT  that PRCo was bent on doing tamping!       This holds
> >true through experience    ----    I lived on the 42 line and the ride
> >along the concrete prw was exceptionally smooth and one knew simply by
> >feel the moment the car entered the open prw inbound as the ride became
> >quite bouncy and rough by comparison to the concrete.       I always
> >looked forward to this part of the ride because, even though the car was
> >still travelling about the same speed, it seemed as though it was moving
> >much faster  --  the bounce and sound of rail joints add tremendously to
> >this illusion!
> >
> >I enjoyed the supposed rough ride on PRCo rails but I definitely have
> >wonderful memories of the Interurbans running at speed through Overbrook
> >on multiples of occasions but something which became less possible as
> >the 1960s wore on.
> >
> >
> >Jim__Holland
> >
> >
> >PS   --   checked other email before sending and stability of ride seems
> >to be a factor.
> >
> >
> >
> >Bill Robb wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>Any idea why PRC paved the 42 Dormont PRW to just over the top of the
> >>ties, but not flush with the top of the rail? Concrete is an expensive
> >>method of paving.
> >>
> >>Bill Robb
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>