[PRCo] Re: Shoulda, Coulda, would

[Edward H. Lybarger]

The story about how Dameron landed the job by showing Loran Lewis around
Saint Louis came to me from Harold Geissenheimer.  Bi-State management
wasn't thrilled about Lewis's coming, so they sent him out with a person
they considered to be a nobody.

Another reason why transit decisions perhaps should not have been left to
politicians like the judge.

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of John
Swindler
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 9:20 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Shoulda, Coulda, would

 
Far too often board of directors tend to be not much more then a collection
of 'empty suits'.  Just ask David Gunn.   For the most part, they are
beholden to the politicans that appointed them to the board.  And doesn't
seem to matter too much whether public or private.  
 
Harley Swift was the initial Executive Director.  He was an ATE guy from
Harrisburg Railways, but he did favor retention of some rail lines.  He had
PAT contract with Gorden Thompson for a study on available rail rights of
way in the Pittsburgh district that could be used for rapid transit.  The
write-up on the Harmony line is .......  rather sickening.  It was, for most
part, all there.  That was a real  'shoulda, coulda, would....'
 
Swift was succeeded by John Dameron from St. Louis.  There is a story that
he met privately with a judge on the initial PAT board, and the rest is
history.  This was from either Tennyson or Grant McCoy.  Dameron presided
over the conversion of most of the rail system, but it was going to happen
anyway.  The private rights of way just weren't there.  
 
The question no one seems to want to ask is why did PRC rail lines last as
long as they did.  Check out the PUC decision for the west end rail lines.
Essentually the highway department made PRC an offer they could not refuse.
Railfans tend to ignore all the small municipalities in Allegheny County
with street trackage.
 
Just an opinion.
 
John
> From: mtoytrain at bellsouth.net> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org> 
> Subject: [PRCo] Shoulda, Coulda, would> Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 
> 20:39:17 +0000> > If in fact there were people with a mind for Rail 
> Transit on the initial PAT board of directors like some> of you good 
> men, what would the PAT PRCo be like today as far as street car lines, 
> what would or> should have been kept, a streetcar line to Oakland, 
> Wilkensburg, North Hills or to the West End? With the gas costs so 
> high today, would in fact modern street cars have been less expensive 
> to operate, just was> wondering what should, coulda or would have 
> happened if the right people were in charge.> Your comments are 
> appreciated. > --> From the RIVER CITY by the Sea! > Jerry "Matt" 
> Matsick > J A C K S O N V I L L E, Florida ! >
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