[PRCo] Re: Gauge and Space

[Barry, Matthew R]

I used to ride the Penn Avenue strip district rails with my Dad's Olds Omega, almost every day on my way to Horne's to pick up my Mom.    It was the best way to go, as far as I was concerned, because it totally avoided the bouncy-bounce of the cobblestones.   I wasn't always perfect in keeping the automobile on the rails, but since Penn is reasonably level and unwavering in that area, it wasn't hard to do.   Can't recall when Penn was ultimately paved over with asphalt - maybe in the 80's?

Also, when the Frankstown and 77/54 streetcars still ran on Penn Avenue tracks through Lawrenceville, I remember a relatively smooth ride.   I seem to recall someone on this list stating that the Penn Ave./Lawrenceville-Garfield tracks had been improved sometime in the 1950s.   As were the tracks on the 16th Street bridge -- another very smooth ride on a streetcar.    Loved the whirring noise of the car as it literally seemed to glide across that bridge.

But anyway, riding the rails was the way to go, if the tracks were embedded in cobblestone, and you were driving a vehicle that fit nicely on the rails.

matt
-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Ken and Tracie
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 4:15 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Gauge and Space

I had a friend who grew up in Pittsburgh. He was a hot rodder. He liked to 
get his rear tires spinning on the rails and then steer back onto the 
pavement to launch forward and create a lot of rubber smoke.  Losing control 
and accidentally spinning out cured him of such foolishness.

K.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phillip Clark Campbell" <pcc_sr at yahoo.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:01 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Gauge and Space


>
> This is certainly true, Mr.Lybarger.  I thought of this after I sent my 
> email.
> Those who praised PRC so the horse and buggy could use the tracks for
> smooth passage then cursed PRC because they couldn't get their autos
> out of the tracks didn't they.  I remember that well.
>
>
> Phil
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>> ----- Original Message ----
>> From: Edward H. Lybarger <trams2 at comcast.net>
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:29:55 AM
>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Gauge and Space
>>
>> And very clearly so.  Likewise, my 1962 "wide track" Pontiac used to
>> do that as I was navigating East Street (and other streets).
>>
>> Ed
>>
>> > -----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: Saturday, March 14, 2009 10:05 PM
>> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Gauge and Space
>> >
>> >
>> > The horse and buggy in this photo  'appear'  to be using the car
>> > tracks ala the description in one of the URLs below:
> http://tinyurl.com/PointBridge-19190505
>> >
>> >
>> > Phil
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message ----
>> > From: Phillip Clark Campbell
>> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> > Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 9:52:45 PM
>> > Subject: [PRCo] Gauge and Space
>> >
>> >
>> > I found some interesting comments about early PRC at this URL:
>> > http://tinyurl.com/Gauge-Space
>> > It mentions the inadequate spacing for double tracks and the gauging
>> > used in Pittsburgh.  More information is available here:
> http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/text-idx?c=pitttext&view=toc&idno=00aep1324m
>> >
>> >
>> > Phil
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