[PRCo] Re: Pittsburgh Railways Vol One by Gordon Beal

[Ken and Tracie]

I remember my cousin telling that story to one of my older brothers during a 
1967 visit to Pittsburgh. In fact, I've heard a number of non-fans in 
Pittsburgh tell variations of the following story.

 Supposedly, there were local politicians who insisted upon broad gauge car 
lines in order to gain public support by saying they took steps to keep the 
"evil" Pennsylvania Railroad from acquiring the local streetcar lines and 
using them for shunting freight cars through the streets of Pittsburgh.

Probably B.S., too.

K.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Schneider Fred" <fwschneider at comcast.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:00 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Pittsburgh Railways Vol One by Gordon Beal

> Page 12:  Mr Beal continues to perpetuate the illusion that the 62
> 1/2 inch gauge was to keep freight trains off city streets in spite
> of the fact that Ed Lybarger did some rather extensive research on
> this subject and published it in Trolley Fare several years before
> Beal published his book.   There were a wide variety of gauges, at
> least three common wide gauges 62 11/4, 62 1/2 and 63 inches within
> Pennsylvania.