[PRCo] Re: PRCo__&__West__Penn__February--1949

[Edward H. Lybarger]

The remarks about West Penn have veracity but are oversimplified and would
have one believe that there was a big change in management and corporate
principles.  Harry L. Mitchell, who had come up through the railways company
to become the president of the entire system, had died.  That was the shift.
The power company needed to expand, and the folks who controlled the money
weren't thrilled about cash-draining trolley lines.  So, in 1948, West Penn
wrote the value of the railways company down to scrap value, took back its
power company stock and guaranteed its bonds that matured in 1960.  The idea
was that whenever the cash flow on the railways company went negative, it
would be discontinued.

But the company still had an interest in being in the transportation
business, and gave bus substitution a shot.  That it didn't work can be
attributed to autos (lots of them) and jobs (fewer of them).  No, it wasn't
TV that killed the railways company.

Ed

-----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 16, 2005 8:26 PM
To: - 1714 PRCo__WP__JTC -
Subject: [PRCo] PRCo__&__West__Penn__February--1949


Have quoted Dennis Linsky here before  ((he quotes info from RailFan
pubs of the day))  and thought this might be interesting;  Comments
And  Questions  Follow:::::::


-------- Original Message --------

Good Evening, Everyone:

        It was 56 years ago February 8 when the Van Dorn link and pin
couplers were removed from all of Pittsburgh's PCC cars.       These
couplers were needed when the PCC's were pushing or being pushed by
conventional type cars.       This move was made since the number of
PCC's now greatly exceeded then number of of older cars on the road.

        For the third time since 1939, residents along the 6-block Bon
Air Transfer line in Carrick have blocked Pittsburgh Railways' plan to
substitute buses;  the latest attempt was vigorously objected to and the
one-car shuttle remained.

        Deliveries of the new 1700-series of streamliners has been slow.
      The 25 interurban-PCC's were slated to go to the Tunnel Carhouse
while the remainder were to be distributed to the Keating and Ingram
carhouses primarily.       Pittsburgh Railways has no less than 13
carhouses.       As of Friday, March 11, 1949, 20 new PCC's had arrived.

        The West Penn Railways has stated in an article that if the bus
trial on 3 lines now proposed for abandonment works out, they will put
buses on all remaining lines.       This new policy was the result of a
recent shift of top  management of the West Penn.

        From ERA HEADLIGHTS, April, 1949, page 5.

        Very Sincerely,

        Dennis M. Linsky
        1350 East 5th Street, Apt. 3P
        Brooklyn, NY   11230-4686
        1/16/04

-------- END  Original Message --------


                Seems that an adapter between the Van Dorn on Low-Floor
cars and the standard tow pin on a PCC would be needed, but I am not at
all aware of any Van Dorn Link & Pin couplers on the PCCs.       First I
have heard this  --  couldn't work with the front end skirting!
Don't have this issue of Headlights.

                As of  1949.03.11,  cars  1700--1727    ----    Minus
1723 which was received 1949.03.14    ----    had been  *received*  by
PRCo,    which is 27-cars.       But only 22- 1700-series cars had
*Entered__Service*  being  1700--1721.       Delivery and placement in
service seems to be relatively consistent with the other 566-PCCs
delivered!       Car 1700 arrived on 1948.11.30 and was placed into
service 1948.12.07.       Car 1701 arrived 1949.01.18 with 1702 and 1703
arriving 8-days later.       Production may have lagged because of the
Holiday season.       Seems it was 1- or 2-cars a week starting with
1701 while 1710 through 1715 inclusive arrived within one week and
deliveries really picked up steam from that point on.

             In addition to 1700--1724,  South Hills was assigned
1763--1769 on delivery.       Believe Carrick received 1770--1774  while
the GE cars were divided between Keating and Ingram.       That still
leaves 38- 1700-series PCC City Cars for Highland, Glenwood, Homewood,
Craft, possibly Butler St and one or two other Car Houses!


Jim__Holland