[PRCo] Re: Track Replacement and Road Repair

[Edward H. Lybarger]

PRCo's objective was to the job as cheaply as possible.  PA Highways Dept.,
on the other hand, wanted it done right with the track removed and the
surface restored.  The result was a hodgepodge of methodology, depending on
the location and how vocal the local politicians were.  Typically, PRCo just
cut off the rail head somewhere near the top of the web, then threw asphalt
in the remaining groove.  Amazingly, this satisfied PDH and the
municipalities.  Naturally, it all came out the next winter!  It took until
1957 to finish the job.  All the understreet track structure was just left
in place until the road was rebuilt, which usually happened when the ties
rotted beyond redemption.  So there's very little actual track left in
Washington County.  Washington Park comes to mind, as does the wye in
Donora.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of
mtoytrain at bellsouth.net
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 8:56 AM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org; pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Track Replacement and Road Repair


I remember and it must have been around 1948/49, that the entire stretch of
tracks in Donora was
repaired, they came in and dug out all of the brick, concrete and or black
top and worked on the track and replaced it all and caused alot of mess on
McKean Avenue.   I don't remember for some reason and that seems to be a
topic of NON discussion of who cares when they took the tracks up?  My
question is in fact does alot of the PRCo railway track remain paved over?

Jerry Matsick
>
> From: "James B. Holland" <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com>
> Date: 2006/01/09 Mon AM 04:57:39 EST
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: PITTSBURGH'S___1950___TRACK___PROGRAM
>
> Fred Schneider wrote:
> .
>
> > ... In the 1940s there was a lot of track replacement going on.
>
> .
> In threads in the past we have observed that the Trustees during the
> Bankruptcy were quite good with PRCo  --  most if not all the PCCs were
> purchased under them and Not A Little Track Work was done.       It's a
> shame that all those Underliers ere bleeding so much cash from the
> company  --  wonder how it would have differed if PRCo had a better cash
> flow?
>
> > In the early 1950s there was a lot of work at car stops and special
> > work ... probably were cars were derailing.
>
> .
> Significant wear at car stops as braking exerts downward pressure with
> more rail wear.       Even on open T-Rail, stops that were used
> frequently often had the total railhead surface worn smooth whereas
> where cars are rolling there was only a thin line of steel visible on
> the railhead.       With PCC braking and the possible use of track
> brakes, rail at stops could wear even more.
> .
>
> > In the late 1950s, there was a lot of work tearing up track.
>
> .
> Wasn't it the late 1950s or early 1960s when not a small amount of track
> was replaced by PRCo on either Forbes or Fifth  --  has been mentioned
> here before.     Source may have been Trolley Fare  --  can't remember
> offhand.
>
>
>
>
> Jim__Holland
>
>
> I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!
>
> down with pantographs ---- UP___WITH___TROLLEYPOLES!!!!!!!
>
>
>