[PRCo] The Things You Find Stored In Basements!!

[hrbran99 at adelphia.net]

While riding the GCRTA (Cleveland) rapid transit a few weeks ago I thought I saw something that looked like an older type of streetcar standing on one of the unused former Shaker Hgts Rapid Transit tracks in the basement (subway, if you will) of the Tower City complex downtown. The next time I rode by I had my eyes fixed on the dark, unused trackage and I saw it again. I asked a rail supervisor what the old car was parked on the unused track. He then directed me to a 'cut-through' and said, "go take a look at them if you want." Of course I wanted! There were, as far as the eye could see in the dim light, several (I counted 5) Chicago, Arora & Elgin cars, two old Cleveland cars (Peter Witt and center entrance types), an old Shaker Hgts PCC and way in the distance a PCC air-electric type. I did not have time to venture way back to see, but I think it may be a Pgh PCC. I will have to investigate further. I had no idea CGRTA had all these cars. The supervisor knew they were there, but knew nothing about them or what they were for. I will try to find out what all these trolleys are doing stored in downtown Cleveland the next time I get over to the Central Rail Headquarters building. Imagine, a Pittsburgh PCC may be sitting on track with live overhead here!
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HrB