[PRCo] Re: PITTSBURGH'S___1950___TRACK___PROGRAM

[Edward H. Lybarger]

Several things happened in that time frame:

1.  PRCo came out of reorganization in late 1950.  The new company had
limited capital.
2.  Tom Fitzgerald retired.
3.  C.D. Palmer had different priorities.
4.  Traffic was falling off.
5.  Fare hikes and strikes hurt...more than anyone could imagine.

Fred's observation is absolutely correct.

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of Fred
Schneider
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 7:41 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PITTSBURGH'S___1950___TRACK___PROGRAM


I went through the track book in the PTM library a few weeks ago
looking for the changes down in the point that were made to
accommodate the Gateway Redevelopment.   I came to a significant
conclusion.   In the 1940s there was a lot of track replacement going
on.   In the early 1950s there was a lot of work at car stops and
special work ... probably were cars were derailing.   In the late
1950s, there was a lot of work tearing up track.

On Jan 8, 2006, at 4:54 PM, James B. Holland wrote:

> Dennis Linsky has collected various Traction Publications over the
> years
> and quotes from them  --  I have shared his information here
> before.       Here is a listing he provides for track renewal by
> PRCo in
> 1949.
>
> There is a summary at the end indicating that PRCo had lost enough
> money
> by postponing the fare increase to buy ten new TrolleyCars  --
> PRCo did
> not have any plans to buy cars but just used the comparison to give
> teeth to the amount lost!!
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: 	PITTSBURGH'S 1950 TRACK PROGRAM
> Date: 	Wed, 4 Jan 2006 02:13:26 EST
> From: 	Dennismk1
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>        Good Evening, Everyone:
>
>             It was 56 years ago when Pittsburgh Railways has
> rebuilt the
> following trackage:
>
>             1. Forbes Street from Homewood Cemetery to Craft Avenue--a
> very long stretch.
>             2. Penn Avenue from Whitfield to Winebiddle (route
> 88-Frankstown)--1 mile.
>             3. Brighton Road from Marshall to Davis (most of route 6).
>             4. 9th Street forom Penn to Duquense Way (about 2 blocks).
>             5. West Ohio Street from Federal to Brighton (about 1.5
> miles).
>             6. Being in bankruptcy, PRWys has been allowed to lay only
> 22,000 feet of track a year and the Steel City had to tie in its
> paving
> plans with those of the company.  For 1950, they were talking about
> rebuilding North Ave. Routes 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, and 15--about 2 blocks)
> from Federal to Arch.
>             7. Woods Run Road (tip end of route 18)
>             8. Penn Avenue from Winebiddle to Main (route 88)--3/4
> mile.
>
>             The company used 1000 cars in rush hours--about 300 being
> non-PCC's.  It claimed a loss of about 2 cars per month through
> retirement, disrepair, or accident.  It also said that the
> $3,000,000 it
> might have collected in 1950 would have bought 10 new cars had the
> fare
> increase been in effect sooner.
>
>             From ERA HEADLIGHTS, January, 1950, page 8.
>
>             Very Sincerely,
>
>             Dennis M. Linsky
>
> Jim__Holland
>
>
> I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!
>
> down with pantographs ---- UP___WITH___TROLLEYPOLES!!!!!!!
>
>
>