[PRCo] Coal, inclines, traction, and things I didn't expect

[Derrick J Brashear]

Today I paid another visit to the last employee of the Allegheny and South 
Side Railway, Ken Haberman. He's 82. The AYSS was the captive railroad of 
Oliver Iron and Steel, and it's been a long road to finding any data at 
all. There are still a few things I want to know that I don't, and I have 
still never seen a picture of their SW1 diesel in their service, though 
it landed on Neville Island for another 30+ years at Pittsburgh & Ohio 
Valley.

None of that is the interesting bit. We talked about the South Side, 
his house, and his family. He was related to one Peter Haberman, whose 
will he had. Peter owned shares of the Mount Oliver Inclined Railway at 
his death (1892, I think) and his estate collected the result of a suit 
against the Pittsburgh and Birmingham Traction Company. I don't know those 
details, but apparently he was reasonably well-to-do, and donated his 
house to become St Joseph's Hospital (Carson between 21st and 22nd; 
Building's still there). The first hospital was Peter's old house. I 
haven't seen a picture, and as yet neither has Ken.

I also asked about Haberman Avenue. (the route of the Castle Shannon 
back incline). Well, Peter was also involved in Keeling Coal, so I can 
only assume the name was not coincidence.

He also had some of the deed information for the Pittsburgh Southern, but 
that's probably a story for another time.