[PRCo] Re: Good Old Days
Jim Holland
PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com
Mon Sep 10 22:24:18 EDT 2007
Watching the men clean and oil the switches at Dormont wye.
.
In spite of above, spring return point on 42 wye leg would on rare
occasions get something jammed in it and a TrolleyCar backing up came
straight back off the track with pole dewiring thus alerting
motormen. In most cases they just operated the car forward and back
onto the track, cleaned the point, and continued on. This happened a
couple times.
.
Ops on 42 were supposed to back out over the point and stop, get out of
the seat, poke their head out the door and confirm that the trolley was
on the right wire. Many did so but some did not.
.
Owl car going straight through to Mt.Lebanon (42/38) dewired at the
frog into the wye @ 1.30-AM and also 2.30-AM with the flashing from the
pole hitting the wire dimly lighting one wall in my room, not a small
distance away from the wye. I Knew *_Wye!_* With constant turning
into the wye daily the guides are worn toward the curve as well as a
groove worn into the base of the frog for the turn. (photo attached
of new frog URL Way At Bottom.) Frog was replaced before I arrived
on scene next AM!
.
Dad Came home from work one day in 1957 and shouted out: "The Strike
Is All Over!" I came charging downstairs only to hear him say:
"All Over Pittsburgh!" Unfair, Dad. Chillies tend to be
extremely practical and donut appreciate such chistes~!~!~! ({[Wonder
if that is why Sis gave Dad Apple Cider Vinegar instead of Ice Tea One
Evening for dinner. He didn't not say Nuttin after drinking -
gulping - half of it down~!~!~! Nawww! Sis wasn't overly fond of
TrolleyCars!]})
.
Noted that some of the TrolleyCars had the front end of the track brake
dragging immediately after above strike allegedly to help clean the
rails. I mentioned this to one 42 operator with a city 17, he took a
look, and he had a different car when he came back to the wye~!~!~!
.
Flaming Red Head Irish TrolleyCar Operator (Chust reporting the Fax,
Ma'am, Just The Fax~!~!~!) was a CowBoy Operator (some combo - Irish
CowBoy~!~!). Often worked the 42 or 38. He was on the 38 one day
with a city 17, when B2B trucks were still super soft rides, and his
trolley rope was tied to the catcher leaving a wide arc which almost hit
the ground -- trolley pole had a few kinks in it as well.
.
Same Irish operator was working the 42 when the Point (in left side
rail) entering the wye was being replaced. The point was aligned
but not spiked and not bolted at the fish plate when he hit it hard
Porpoisely causing all the workmen to holler.
.
We had 1710 on a Library run one day and lost the trolley twice --
weak spring~!~!~!. Crossing Elwyn trestle OB at speed (Charlie
Diehl, of course~!~!) and we coasted up to the grade crossing for him
to reset it. I have that on film and video. As we crossed the
Blvd into Castle Shannon the pole popped again -- this time a
passenger tells him he should be taking it easy. Back Seat Trolley
Operators back then as well~!~!~!
.
The only dewirement I ever saw in South Hills Junction area was an
Interurban pulling into the yard - trolley dewired at the frog, snapped
the retriever, pulled the pole clear of the overhead, car coasted to
stop behind car in front and stopped and stayed that way. In Spite of
the M~A~N~Y shallow angle turnouts which are almost designed for
dewirement - turnout at tunnel portal OB, where 42/Interurban split, IB
into the loop around the admin bldg through a modified spiral easement
which is another Built For Dewirement turn, and where the 44/48 turned
into the back track -- I N~E~V~E~R saw dewirements in any of these
locations.
.
Another dewirement further down in the yard was on the 38, 39, 42 main
IB on the curve past the grade crossing. Was riding with Isadore
Reichert on either an early 38 or 39 run when I noted a broken hanger on
the curve with the ear caught on the wire and blocking it. Before I
could say anything we dewired. When I told Izzy he laughed and said
it was probably just the way the car rolled through the turn. When
we came back OB an IB car was doing 3 times our speed and dewired, not
able to stop until he was near the turnout on the main for the east
yard. Izzy saw the broken hanger then and called it in -- fixed
before we got back!
.
The only dewirement I can remember in downtown Pittsburgh was the turn
toward Grant from Smithfield Bridge - spiral easement again which is
tricky for overhead alignment. Nothing on Smithfield, Nothing on
Wood, Nothing on Grant, Nothing on 3rd, 4th, Diamond, 5th, 6th, 7th,
Liberty, Penn, etc., etc., etc. Ahhhhh~!~! One Udder.
Stanwix to Fort Duquesne trailing turnout -- link between West End and
North side -- 1000 series PCC dewired every time through. Stood
there several hours in bitter cold, apparently only one ten in service
on these lines and only this one car dewired both times -- go figger.
In spite of the shallow angle turnout outbound on Smithfield and
Carson toward the tunnel, N~E~V~E~R experienced dewirement here.
.
A ride on the Interurban PCCs always seemed to be different -- maybe
since they were the only ones with B3s the sound was distinctly
different. Cars seemed heavier even though they were lighter than
the city 17s. Clattering through SHJ OB and up the hill, across the
trestle over Warrington and it seemed like a Whole Different World --
even Different Planet -- Interurban Rules governed here which allowed
for much higher speeds on curves which just didn't work on city routes!
.
I Stood Standing at the north end of the McKinley Park Trestle with
Movie Camera running during Fair Days when Library cars ran every minute
or two. First outbound car on film just sauntered up -- second one
sounded like it was doing 100-mph but can't tell difference on film --
Need The Sound Of Those Rail Joints for the effect~!~!~!
.
Each Car Stop and Each Grade Crossing on Library had saw horses with
flashing yellow lights on either side of each to warn motormen not used
to the lines about the locations and possible hazards during Fair Days.
.
First time I rode with Charlie Diehl was during Fair Days. Coming
back from Fair I walked down to Bethel Ch Rd to board rather than the
cattle gates -- could get My seat this way. Good Grief, Charlie
Brown -- This Interurban TrolleyCar came charging around the curve at
the bottom of the hill, leaned what seemed like 30-degrees to the left,
then 30 to the right then slammed back and forth in the gauge and came
charging up the hill. Now I had Ridden Many A Car like this -- but
seeing it outside was something else again. We got a good load of
Fair people and the car was very quiet most of the way in. At
Hillcrest we raced through the underpass which causes drainage problems
and track realignment and the back end of the car bounced hard causing a
young boy to bounce out of his seat! Charlie turned and looked with
a fiendish sort of grin and charged on down into Wash. Jct. All Too
Soon we were at South Hills and he got relieved but I K~N~E~W with
whom I wanted to ride from now on~!~!~!
.
Liked riding during Fair Days because most psgrs were Not At All Used to
High Speed TrolleyCars and they were Very Quiet with Concern and
Wonderment at what was happening~!~! Mom Always Said that a Big part
of the Fun in going anywhere was the ride on the TrolleyCar~!~!~!
.
.
.
.
.
.
Fibber McGee and Molly
.
Kukla, Fran, & Ollie
.
Kate Smith
.
Howdy Doody
.
Inner Sanctum
.
Early Years of TV
.
.
.
.
.
Bill & Walt's Hobby Shop on Smithfield near Blvd.
.
Recommended practice for placing overhead frog for models is directly
above track frog - early to mid-1950s. In those days we made our own
frogs and mine were quite crude as very young teen. Trolley would
Always Follow the wrong wire because the pole would scrape against the
large crude flanges I made to guide the shoe. I finally went out and
measured By Footsie the frogs at the Dormont wye, at Clearview Loop and
walked to Castle Shannon to measure frogs there and found that
"""The__General__Rule""" is that the overhead frog is located about
1/3rd the distance from the point to the frog and slightly offset toward
the curve. A span Should Be Placed At The Point to hold the wire at
that location directly centered over the track -- this allows the
slight offset toward the curve of the frog to be of practical benefit.
.
Told my experience to proprietors of Bill & Walt and they Soundly
Laughed Me Out Of The Store!~!~!
.
Within a year or two, Suydam came out with his classic HO Catalog with a
section on overhead at the very back which vindicated my observations as
he stated exactly what I state above!~!~!
.
T~~H~~E Hobby Shop in Pittsburgh was A.B.Charles_&_Son on W.Liberty
Avenue in Dormont. Originally located immediately across from the
leg of the 42-wye, I Often Crossed the street there to watch their
beautiful HO RR located in the back of the store.
.
Bud was a gem - he often helped me with problems and made parts for me -
free of charge. He got much business from me buying replacement
trolley poles, overhead, hangers, equipment, track, etc.
.
Bud's Hobby Shop moved about 1/2 block inbound in the 1950s where it
remained until just recently -- understand it went through a
relocation. Last I talked to Bud his wife was ailing but they were
still avid travelers if the opportunity presented itself.
.
Hobby was barely tolerated at home but wasn't appreciated. I loved
the Suydam equipment, esp the Niles and North Shore Cars and would save
my money and hide it in the rafters in the attic, make the purchase at
Bud's Hobby Shop, and take the model to my Aunt where she stored it
until I left home. No One knows about this To This Day!~!~! Bud
knew about all this, though!~!~! What are Y~o~u~r Kids Doing
Today?~!~?~!~?
.
Remember TV news anchor taking the job as streetcar motorman and
essentially denigrating the position on Live TV saying AnyOne could do
this job - who wants it? True - most could operate a TrolleyCar -
hardly rocket science - but there is a special lore to it.
.
Built Very Crude 3-pedal foot pedal system and Transistor Throttle to
operate model trolleycars after tour with Uncle Sam's Canoe Club was
over with overhead contactor for operating switches. Highly Realistic
Operation -- Look forward to DCC being even better!~!~!
.
Dad claims to have been hired by PRCo not long after he came home from
WW2 - he worked the old cars as both conductor and motorman but said he
was too nervous with all those levers, people on and off the car,
traffic etc. Shame -- would have been real legacy had he
stayed!! Believe he quit within 2-weeks and moved on.
.
Mom & Dad would set up 8'X4' Lionel layout, Trim the Christmas Tree,
'build' the village around the tree and on the layout and set out the
presents A~L~L On Christmas Eve After the chili peppers went to
bed!~!~! Christmas Morning was an Absolutely Amazing Time!~!~!
.
It was many years before I found the layout stored in the cellar - after
that, the RR disappeared and TrolleyCars dominated the scene!~!~!
.
Remember the huge 1950 snow which shut down much of PRCo Including the
Interurbans (have story here from some Interurban motorman retired in
CA who got stuck on Washington line -- local people invited him home
for the night where he had a warm bed and good food!~!~!) All I saw
On Occasion was the shovel as Dad shoveled out front!~!~!
.
Really Enjoyed shoveling Snow - was quite efficient at it. Never had
to tell me twice to shovel the snow -- didn't not have to tell me the
first time - just did it and enjoyed it. CanNot say I feel the same
now - snow in pictures is sometimes too much and SF weather is so
temperate And Mild And Beautiful And Sunny (somewhere!~!) And Enjoyable
weather overkissed, foggy, sunny, rainy - really enjoy winter rains and
like to go to northcoast in winter during rain storms that I am really
spoiled.
.
Paternal GrandMother grew up in Connellsville and the countryside near
Somerset - Garrett (was in General Store here where she used to play)
and she Always told me stories about the WP TrolleyCars - '''...those
were Big Cars''' she would say!~!~!
.
First TrolleyCar publication I bought was PERC typed glossy with photos
about WP - still have it. It has Always been at my fingertips since
day I purchased it -- even in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club!~!~!
.
Second publication I bought was Trolley Car Treasury!~!~!
.
Has been All UpHill from there!~!~!
.
Worked as Soda Jerk in Potomac Pharmacy and walked the 42 tracks back
and forth to work. Owned by Solador Family and worked by 2
pharmacists, Henry Solador and Ray who lived 1/2block away on Belrose.
Store open from 8-AM til 11-PM 6-days a week, 8-AM til 6-PM Sunday -
2 pharmacists with someone always there!~!~! Soda fountain remained
for only 6-months and the store went through a tremendous modernization
- used to make Cherry / Vanilla / etc cokes, banana splits, etc.
Many didn't like Henry's brash personality but he and I got along
great. He and I would compete at Christmas for sales!~!~! I took
over ordering of candy as I found if I kept it full stocked that it sold
faster!~!~!
.
Henry's Mom had Parkinson and lived with Sister - Henry gave me keys to
his Brand New Buick and I took Mom and Sis out for rides On The
Payroll. Henry would buy me lunch With His Money - learned about
super corned beef and cabbage here!~!~!
.
Dad helped me file IRS return to get back taxes Henry had paid - I
didn't owe anything - Henry quite surprized to have this returned to
him!~!~!
.
Have gotten Op of Month Awards here at Muni where I get gifts and cash
from various organizations. Wrote Thank You Letters to each and am
told that I was the first so to do - quite shocked at this!~!~!
.
We were just blue collar family but were taught to respect others and to
say Thanks. Thank__You__Mom_&_Dad for teaching the Heart of
Living!~!~!
.
I always like to run when doing things and did so in running errands for
the Pharmacy. Others got on my case but that was Just Me. Did
help at the store.
.
Store got wifes old 52 Chevy and Often put brake on floor as it had a
fluid leak - was that way til I moved on and when my brother went to
work there.
.
Brother worked there after me and he and Henry would go hunting at Ohio
Pyle - turned into a Family Friend!~!~!
.
.
.
Jim__Holland
.
.
.
.
.
Meeting John C. Swindler while RailFanning on PRCo -- we have kept
contact to this day!
.
Meeting Carol Swindler -- that was in SF but Still Tremendous Fun --
A Decade Ago(?~?)!~! They Promised A Return Trip.......
.
Meeting PRCo Op Walthers, friend of John, former Washington Interurban
Operator who knew his equipment Well!!
.
Knew Every Rail Joint on 42-Dormont as well as Interurbans and could
*-click-* them all off -- threw me for a loop when they installed
welded rail on some of the trestles in the 1950s -- Smithfield and
Palm Garden. Didn't Not NoHow like the flared joints used with this
welded rail -- like RR point meeting railhead -- they Were Not
Smooth! Never tried to learn these joints -- just seemed to come
naturally!~!~!
.
Delivering SnoozePapers for many years -- Up Very Early Sunday morning
to meet the last 42/38 Owl. I would be finished with papers before
6-AM and on my way for All Day Pass Riding -- home for Dinner only and
back out until Mudnight in the summer.
.
Woke one Sunday AM to find tremendous amount of snow. Trolley
running very late but heard the Overhead Wheel first and some distance
away -- snow acts like excellent insulator -- Much Better than
Standard Resilient or even Super Resilient Wheels!~!~! Car was close
to 30-minutes late and Really Moving! Multiples of grade crossings
at all angles near Greenmount but NO traffic so that PCC Sailed!!
Appeared as if snow came up to skirting which is 12" above railhead --
snow between rails packed to overflowing!~!~!
.
Watched line crew install Shining New Overhead between Owls one Sunday AM.
.
Line Crew looking for dewirement spot Outbound on the curve opposite
Kelton. I showed them the place where poles dewired and watched them
fix it -- No More Problem!!
.
Some of the first snows of the year melted on the way down and froze on
the trolley wire for absolutely TanFasTic Horrendously Beautiful
Fireworks Displays -- we have disgusted this before and the
installation of ice cutters but Never Saw Such Installed -- they just
burned the ice off with the normal wheel, as well as some of the
overhead not to mention the wheel itself!~!~! Ice Cutter wheel full
of rough ridges so it would arc continually as well, ice or not, but
probably no where near as much arcing as with ice itself.
.
Watching TrolleyCars wye at Dormont in Rush Hour in early 1950s --
Trolleys backed up All The Way to Park Blvd. waiting for entry to wye.
Service car would back deep and allow cars returning to the barn to
back in front of it -- some real cowboys -- peebles walked around
the wye as well but Never Saw An Accident. Great fun with Jones cars
as motormen often stood, had to work controller and brake handles in
addition to reverser --- All Right There In Sight! Wish I had
movies of this.
.
Ops in hurry didn't not pull up far enough over sprung overhead frog so
trolley went on wrong wire when backing and ended up stuck in the
overhead. Road Call Time!~!~!
.
One car put large kink in the overhead this way and it was Amazing how
many trolleycars made it over this kink when pulling into the wye --
only the rare car dewired. Good thing the kink wasn't in the back up
wire!~!~!
.
Saw one car that had broken torque arm which keeps the axles
parallel. Shop did hasty wire job to hold pieces together but was
NoWhere Near Adequate. Front wheel front truck would lift Well Off
the railhead when backing out of the wye -- I was cringing like crazy
and the Operator saw this and would stop the car only to have the shop
men tell him to continue!~!~!
.
One PCC -- believe it was an 1200 -- had reverser failure and had to
have inspector clear W. Liberty so he could head inbound on the outbound
track for about 3-car lengths and then take the X-Over to the Inbound
track to go back to the barn!~!~!
.
Standing at Biltmore to punch in time clock for ops heading
outbound!~!~! Free service!~!~!
.
({[Punching Time Clock when No PCCs nor any other TrolleyCar around!~!~!]})
.
Occasionally a pole would break when backing the 42-wye -- amazing to
watch them change it -- standing a 14-foot pole on the ground beside
the car made it seem twice as large as when it was actually mounted to
the car!~!~!
.
.
.
Jim__Holland
.
.
.
Ed Lybarger wrote::
Roth Carpet is indeed still in business.
Nice memoirs!
-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On
<mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org%5DOn> Behalf Of Jim
Holland
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 7:31 AM
To: - 1714 PRCo__WP__JTC -
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Good Old Days
> Dennis Fred Cramer wrote::
.
> Ah yes! We all get to remember the good old days focusing on those
things we knew and loved.
------- [snipped] -------
> I miss the orange sky's at night in the Mon Valley. I did get to ride
the Jack Rabbit, Racer, walk through Noah's Ark and ride the train at
Kennywood last Sunday. That will probably be the last time I go. I
stopped paying to go to amusement parks long ago and my job is the
reason I still attend.
> Those of us in the world who have positive thoughts, that includes
those on this list, remember the good and the bad. We just tend to focus
much more on the positive. I think it has something to do with education
level and life experience.
.
.
.
Individuality and gifts of the individual determine the thoughts -- And
Quite Often many people with lives that would be considered absolutely
horrible by the masses have Nothing But Pleasant Thoughts!~!~! Tough
Times and Challenges are very often Quite Humbling and are the stuff
that build Character!~!~! A Big Theme of the 1950s was that Parents
didn't want their Chilli Peppers to go through what they went through.
Unfortunately, this is Bad!~!~! Challenges are real and having a
parent Stand By // Beside for guidance *-Through-* Challenges rather
than avoiding same is THE best way to build character.
.
.
.
West View Coaster nothing to sneeze at -- excellent ride as well.
.
Picnics in North Park with::
.
.......those Angelic Deviled Eggs!~!~!
.
.......Chipped Ham from Isaly's in Sandwiches
.
.......Heinz Pickles to Top Off the Sandwiches!~!~!
.
.......Heinz Ketchup and Mustard on those Sandwiches as well!~!~!
.
.......Real HomeMade Potato Salad!~!~!
.
.......""The__Dad's"" Playing Ball -- or attempting to!~!~!
.
.......or ""The__Dad's"" taking out the canoe, and swamping it!~!~!
.
.
Remember debut of 7-Up in Pittsburgh -- SinFully Delicious and
definitely different from Coca-Cola!
.
The Big Isaly's Plant with what seemed like Miles and Miles of seating
at what looked like student desks!~!~!
.
Coca-Cola - """50-million times a day, at home at work or on the way,
everyone drinks Coca-Cola, everyone drinks Coke!~!~!""" This Jingle
Actually a part of Coke advertizing in the 1950s!
.
Get your rugs cleaned at Roth -- Emerson 2-2800 (Zeros pronounced as
Ohs! in this TV Jingle which I can Still Recite To This Day -- Are they
still in Beezness?~!~?)
.
The Hot Dog stand in E.Liberty that claimed to have sold millions of
Foot Long Hot Dogs.
.
The roller skating rink nearby where USS often had Family Night!~!~!
.
Running with my Aunt for the TrolleyCar -- Ops *-Always-* Stopped for
her!~!~!
.
Mom taking my sister and I for a ride on the 87-Ardmore Just To Ride The
TrolleyCar!
.
Mom and Dad taking my Sister and I on the Washington Interurban before
it was cut back!~!~!
.
.......Distinctly remember the Houston Leap! We were heading southbound,
took quite sharp left turn at considerable speed and remember thinking
that a city trolleycar would easily dewire at such speed. We raced
across this trestle and dropped so fast into Grant at the other end that
it left the stomach in the air -- m~u~c~h better than Any Roller
Coaster!~!~! Motormen probably did this porpoisely!~!~!
.
.......As was typical with our family, we had to run to catch the
Interurban Already Backing out of the wye!~!~!
.
.......On the way back my father had to ask the motorman to stop the car
so he could take me Out In The Bushes! """Not On The Wheels!~!~!"""
exclaimed my father!~!~!
.
Riding by Richfol in the Family car Multitudes of Times!~!~!
.
Visiting Cousins near Pleasant Hills and riding out along the Charleroi
Interurban in various places.
.
Downtown shopping with Mom and Insisting that we wait for one of the Old
TrolleyCars in rush hour to ride home. She didn't like that as she got
her heels caught in the slatted floor -- but we did ride one of those
Old TrolleyCars Home!~!~!
.
Mom and I walking to Horne's - more like she was dragging me - as I saw
an Interurban coming along Wood and wanted to wait and watch it go by!~!~!
.
Clark Candy Bars!~!~! *-AYE-* -- Want A Clark Bar!~!~!
.
Annual School Picnic where Dormont Chartered about 20 TrolleyCars for
the ride to Kennywood - quite a sight to see them all come out the
38-Mt.Lebanon line - we loaded in front of the Presbyterian Church on
Washington Rd just opposite Bower Hill Rd (and inside Mt.Lebanon, Not
Dormont!~!~!)
.
HORRIBLE 1955 TrolleyCar Fire in Homewood -- Paternal Grandparents lived
just 3-blocks away. I saw the carnage firsthand!~!~!
.
Candle Light Christmas Eve Service at the Lutheran Church on Grant
Street at Midnight followed by Dinner downtown! Then riding the 42/38
Owl TrolleyCar Home -- The Only Time we saw 42/38 on a 42-car in Real
TrolleyCar Days!~!~! Had to catch it on Smithfield or Wood, Not Grant!~!~!
.
Riding my first PERC charter on M11 -- That Accelerator Got Hellishly
Hot!~!~! We went out on Library Interurban, had M11 flat out on the
floor coming back in but the Revenue Car from Library caught us at
Shannon!~!~! We backed into 37-loop to allow Revenue car to pass.
.
Riding on a Baltimore charter on PRCo with Rocky Engleman on 1646 and
1709 -- operator looked and talked like actor Lee Marvin, was former
Interurban operator to Charleroi // Washington, and was featured in
newspaper with photo for their annual former Interurban Operator
Get-Together. Op allowed Rocky to run the Interurban in Buttermilk
Hollow on the 56-McKeesport. Have much of this on movie film and video.
.
On the above charter we went outbound on the 10-West View and Inbound on
the 15. We charged down the center of highway prw toward one of the Very
High TrolleyCar trestles converted to accept rubber tired vehicles and
the Out of State auto approaching from the other side backed off the
trestle when he saw the Interurban coming At Very Real Speed!~!~!
.
Racing outbound on Forbes(?~? -- 64/67 lines) and crossing trestle over
Frick Park and Passing All Traffic on the above Charter!~!~!
.
My Dad and I going from Dormont to Homewood by TrolleyCar to visit
Paternal GrandParents. Coming home we get off at 10th, walk up to and
along Liberty to Smithfield where we spy a 42 about to turn onto 7th -
we bolt to catch the car only to watch it Split The Switch with the back
end heading straight down Smithfield. So Much For Our Ride Home!~!~!
.
Going to Grandma's myself on the 88 and racing out Liberty along the PRR
retaining wall -- Really Racing in an old 1000-series car as there had
been a delay.
.
Dad and I going to Forbes Field on TrolleyCar to watch Pirates - coming
home on 42-Dormont 1454 (house number across the street from us - reason
I remember the car number on this one!~!~!) the trolley pole dewired
outbound at Dawn Jct -- donut remember NoThing about the game except
that it was Very Slow!!!
.
Could tell series of PRCo PCC from 1/4-mile away and could tell series
by sound!~!~!
.
Remember 1601-series Interurban filling in as tripper on 42-Dormont
Displaying PITTSBURGH in the destination sign because it Didn't Not have
a 42-sign (yet!) -- Interurbans originally sported destinations strictly
for Interurban lines Only until some time Well After cutback in 1953.
.
Remember the Interurbans using the 38-Mt.Lebanon back to the barn in the
PM rush hour. Would try to catch one of the Interurbans if going to an
PRMA meeting at the downtown Y.
.
Remember riding PCC Interurban 1705 inbound on the 42-Dormont when going
to PRMA meeting downtown on one very snowy evening -- Op told me they
put the Interurbans out on the other lines after the rush hour because
they were Heavier and tracked better in the snow. Think he tried to Snow
Me with that one as the 17-series Interurbans were about 500-pounds
lighter than the City Cars!~!~!
.
Gulf Building Weather forecasting -- blue / red, solid / flashing --
never could remember what it meant and was Much Easier Just To Look At
The Sky to see what was Happening!~!~!
.
Pirates winning Series in 1959 caused Gridlock in the city and a few
deaths because ticker tape thrown out windows locked up TrolleyCar
wheels which burned Overhead Down with 600-volt wire landing on lady -
TrolleyCar service essentially shut down.
.
Pleasantness of TrolleyCar ride through Tunnel in Summer!~!~!
.
Beautiful smell of Ozone in Mt.Washington TrolleyCar Tunnel!~!~!
That's a High to be Experienced!~!~!
.
Riding 1723 outbound on Drake one Mother's Day when she split the switch
at Bon Air -- rear truck went on the ground and back wheel ran up on
track brake which stopped us Instantly. Many people, esp kids, hit their
mouth on the seat in front. I was sitting in center of back seat and
found myself running up the aisle!~!~!
.
Walked back to SHJ to find a Drake Car Sub for 1723 having been sent
around town just coming out of Tunnel. Jumped on board and rode outbound
Express on the 38-Mt.Lebanon. Motorman normally a sleeper but he Really
Moved It! Had it on the floor into one of the broad sweeping curves to
the right -- Interurban heaved to the left, motorman released the power,
car then leaned to the right, motorman put power back on floor,
Interurban leaned back to left and stayed there as we negotiated the
curve At Speed!~!~!
.
Auto parked on track at Clearview Loop so motorman blasted away on the
Horn. Chinese Laundryman came racing out of his shop totally panic
struck at a TrolleyCar Honking at his auto!~!~! Someone was at Shannon
to set switches so we went straight outbound to Wash Jct without having
to back around Shannon loop. When we got to Highway 51 crossing inbound
the disabled 1723 had just cleared the single track!~!~! (Motorman was
operating 1601-Interurban on Dinky when it had cornfield meet with
1261!~!~! Said it looked like it was coming at him sideways it was such
a surprize - coming around one of the gentle curves!~!~! Nachod
Failure!~!~!)
.
Riding in Family 52-Chevy one summer along 88 at Pioneer Ave (Elwynn
Stop on Interurban) with all windows down about twilight - most vehicles
had lights on but wasn't really *-necessary-* yet. We were stopped in
heavy traffic when we heard the thunder of an approaching 17-Interurban
-- Roof Light Lit. It hit the trestle at speed with Roaring Thunder,
back end bounced up and down, trolley pole appeared to scrape along low
overhead causing a fireworks type display, pole never dewired, and PCC
Interurban thundered off faster than it arrived on scene. """Wish we had
been on that TrolleyCar!~!~!""" Exclaimed Mom.
.
Mom and Aunt would Always Say that Half the fun in going to picnics was
the ride on the TrolleyCar!~!~!
.
Would be Gopher for motormen in the summer and would ride Many Round
Trips on the *-Cars-*!~!~!
.
It was Extremely Rare to experience a Trolley Pole Dewirement in
Pittsburgh -- probably saw / experienced as many trolley pole
dewirements daily here in San Francisco in mid 1970s as I did for first
20-years of life in Pittsburgh!~!~! Trolley Overhead in SF in 1970s was
absolutely abysmal!
.
A~L~L this is Just The Tip Of The Iceberg -- There I~S Much More!~!~!
.
.
.
Jim__Holland
.
.
.
--
*Jim Holland*
Studying *Pittsburgh Railways Company*
....................From 1930 -- 1950
*Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM)*
http://www.pa-trolley.org/
*N.M.R.A.*
http://www.nmra.org/
-- Attached file removed by Ecartis and put at URL below --
-- Type: image/jpeg
-- Size: 30k (31427 bytes)
-- URL : http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/Frog%20Left%20Wheel.jpg
More information about the Pittsburgh-railways
mailing list