[PRCo] Re: derail

Sat Apr 25 16:18:50 EDT 2009

I just passed it on. It's from the Pennsylvania Antiquie Motor Bus
Group. Also, when it comes down to economic operation PRCo was content
to run streetcars so long as some money could be made. They (PRCo)
probably did not want to fight the competition on Neville Island and
into Coraopolis. Neville Island running was slow and very unsafe given
the location of the tracks and the fact that passengers were dropped
off into a lane of fast moving autos. Single track (the main drawback
to many PRCo routes) added extra minutes and increased accident
exposure time. Running time with conventional cars was 58 minutes
(+/-), however, running time with PCCs increased to 65 minutes (+/-).
The bus was most likely faster. The relationship between PRCo and the
PUC was not the best either. Given that climate PRCo management
probably did not shed many tears when the Neville Island, Coraopolis,
Sewickley service was cut back to Island Avenue.

On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 2:35 PM, Phillip Clark Campbell
<pcc_sr at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Mr.Brannon;
>
>
> Thank you very much for taking the time to prepare this report;  it is very
> revealing isn't it.  The competing service of SCL and PRC in Coraopolis
> not unlike that on the 62 in Trafford - the bus line scheduled service just
> ahead of the trolley.  PRC should have fought that on the basis of unfair
> service.  Seems strange today that those antique buses could offer any
> competition to a trolley but people like trying something new.
>
> Thanks again.
>
>
> Phil
>
>
>
>
>
>> ----- Original Message ----
>> From: Herb Brannon <hrbran at cavtel.net>
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 4:31:34 PM
>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: derail
>>
>> The following is from the Pennsylvania Antique Motor Bus Society:
>>
>>
>> Shafer Coach Lines (SCL) can trace its roots back to May of 1928 when
>> a small bus line was started by a Mr. Helsley to connect the
>> Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo) streetcar line 23 in Coraopolis to
>> Clinton which was 10 miles away. This two bus operation had its rights
>> renewed for this feeder type service in 1930 but were not renewed
>> after that so it is assumed that the service was abandoned between
>> 1930 and 1932.
>>
>> The next attempt at a bus line in the Coraopolis area was made in 1937
>> by William A. Shafer, an operator of a trucking line. Applications
>> were filed for 4 routes, one of which was Mr. Helsley's old route.
>> Three of the routes were granted quickly by the PSC and by August of
>> 1937, operations commenced on the original route, a
>> Coraopolis-Imperial feeder, and a line from Coraopolis to Aliquippa
>> via Broadhead Road. The 4th route was held up as the application was
>> considered competitive to the PRCo 23 streetcar route as well as the
>> fact that the Ohio River Motor Coach Company also applied for a
>> similar route at the same time.
>>
>> The SCL was ultimately awarded the rights to the line over Ohio River
>> Motor Coach in the summer of 1938 and service was started on this line
>> after 5 new Beaver Coaches were delivered in August of 1938. This 4th
>> line was considered the backbone of the SCL operation and ran from
>> Aliquippa to Pittsburgh via Neville Island, McKees Rocks and the West
>> End (similar to the 21A Coraopolis to Aliquippa route of PAT today).
>>
>> An additional line was added in November of 1938 and went from McKees
>> Rocks to Coraopolis and Sewickley via Kenmawr. The Coraopolis-Clinton
>> line was also extended to Groveton at this time to provide extra
>> service on a portion of the new line.
>>
>> The next major service changes for SCL occurred in 1943 when 2 of the
>> feeder routes were cut back from their original termination points and
>> a new route in October of 1943 was instituted from Coraopolis to the
>> Mooncrest housing project.
>>
>> Although the PSC (later the PUC) tended to restrict local traffic on
>> certain carriers if competition would result, the PRCo streetcar line
>> 23 and SCL had no such restriction outside of the City of Pittsburgh.
>> PRCo and SCL had what many would call a competition war, primarily in
>> the Coraopolis area. SCL had similar headways and fares during the
>> 1940's and 50's as the PRCo 23 line did. Based on events that
>> occurred, it appeared that SCL had its buses scheduled just ahead of
>> the PRCo streetcars and to counter the loss of ridership, PRCo
>> increased service on the line. SCL filed a complaint with the PUC
>> claiming that PRCo was engaging in unfair competition by increasing
>> service on its line and the PUC upheld the complaint.
>>
>> The action by the PUC, as well as losing passengers, revenue and the
>> fact that there was yet another application for a competitive bus
>> service along its route (which was later denied by the PUC), made PRCo
>> cut back the 23 line to Graham Loop on Neville Island and later to
>> Fleming Park Loop in West Park. A short lived bus feeder was run from
>> 1953 to August 15, 1955 by PRCo from Fleming Park Loop to Graham Loop
>> after the second cutback but was abandoned due to declining ridership.
>> After the PRCo feeder was abandoned, SCL had exclusive service on
>> Neville Island as well as Coraopolis.
>>
>> No major changes in service occurred for SCL for almost 20 years
>> except for adjustments to accommodate changing traffic patterns,
>> primarily the opening of the Fort Pitt Bridge in 1959. The only other
>> notable event was a deviation on the Pittsburgh-Coraopolis-Airport
>> line to serve Sharon Hill Manor in Moon Township in 1963.
>>
>> It needs to be noted that the Airport service that SCL ran was heavily
>> restricted as Airlines Transportation Company held rights to haul
>> passengers to the Greater Pittsburgh Airport. SCL ran trips intended
>> only for airline employees to get to and from work.
>>
>> SCL's equipment was in good shape and maintained exceptionally well.
>> They were one of the few Pittsburgh independents that exclusively
>> operated transit buses without center doors which some call muzzle
>> loaders. At takeover the SCL turned over 29 buses and 5 routes to PAT.
>>
>> ________________________________
>> Acquired Equipment (with PAT number if re-numbered)
>> Shafer NumberMakeModelYearPAT Number
>> 59BrillC-311951186
>> 61-62BrillC-311951194,197
>> 63-64BrillC-311951195,196
>> 65BrillC-311951198
>> 67BrillC-311951199
>> 69-71BeaverB-35-PT1952686-688
>> 72BeaverB-40-PT1953689
>> 73-78GMTDH37141954760-765
>> 79-80GMTDH45121955401-402
>> 81-82GMTDH45121956403-404
>> 83-84GMTDH45121957405-406
>> 85-86GMTDH45171960571-572
>> 87GMTDH45121955407
>> 88-89GMTDH45121953408-409
>> 90GMTDH45121955410
>>
>> Note: Coaches 88-90 were second hand.
>>
>> ________________________________
>> Routes (shown with PAT numbers)
>> 21A Coraopolis
>> 21B Kenmawr
>> 25A Sewickley - Groveton
>> 25B Broadhead Road
>> 38A Airport Express
>>
>> On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 3:58 PM, Phillip Clark Campbell wrote:
>> >
>> > Mr.Barry;
>> >
>> >
>> > You always come up with very interesting photos don't you.
>> >
>> > It will take some time to study this photo;  only the one overhead wire curves
>> > onto the bridge.  The other wire could curve out of the picture to allow for
>> > overhang of car ends.  I have the collection of bus articles on Pittsburgh;
>> > now I need to find them and see if 'Shafer' routes can be identified.  Can we
>> > deduce that trolleys are 4 times heavier than 'heavy' trucks?
>> >
>> > It is now very tricky to save huge files isn't it since one can't right click.  It
>> > is necessary to save parts and do a photo merge.  Must be an easier way.
>> >
>> > This is a favorite of mine:
> http://tinyurl.com/1515on50SmithfieldWater
>> >
>> >
>> > Phil
>> >
>> >
>> > > ----- Original Message ----
>> > > From: "Barry, Matthew R"
>> > > To: "pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org"
>> > > Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 6:50:58 AM
>> > > Subject: [PRCo] Re: derail
>> > >
>> > > I got the photo from the Historic Pittsburgh site.   There's a couple more
>> > > interesting ones on there, such as this one...   anyone know the bridge?
>> > > Here is the link to the new set on Historic Pittsburgh:
>> > >
> http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?c=ascgen&g=imls&page=index
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Matt
>> > >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
>> > > [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Phillip
>> > > Clark Campbell
>> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 2:51 PM
>> > > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> > > Subject: [PRCo] Re: derail
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Mr.Barry;
>> > >
>> > > Great photo isn't it; where did you find it?
>> > >
>> > >
> http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/bridge_restriction.jpg
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

-- 
Herb Brannon
On America's North Coast