[PRCo] Re: Broadway, Dormont

[Edward H. Lybarger]

Had to be somewhere else...I've never seen that video.

-----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: Sunday, January 02, 2005 12:56 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
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
>>    
>>
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