[PRCo] Re: 80 years ago today

[Phillip Clark Campbell]

Mr.Cramer;

Thank you for the list of names for these trolleys;  do you have the matching numbers?

Phil




On February 13, 1930, both the Valley News Dispatch of Tarentum and The Daily Dispatch of New Kensington ran multiple page sections featuring the new cars being implemented on the Allegheny Valley division of West Penn Railways.  According to all accounts, "they rode like Pullmans".  A parade of cars was held on Valentine's Day, 2/14/1930, with many of the cars being christened along the route with Billy Baxter Ginger Ale (It was during prohibition).  As the parade progressed, the cars were christened in their named communities by young ladies from that particular community. =20

2/3/1930

The West Penn Railways Band, under the direction of HF Welch, will perform "Spirit of West Penn", composed by JE Carrow assistant director of the band, during the trolley parade.



2/13/1930

The trolley parade will take place on February 14th and will begin in Natrona and proceed to each location listed.  Each car will be christened with locally produced Billy Baxter Ginger Ale by girls selected from each varying neighborhood.


Miss Natrona-7:35 PM-Natrona end of the line, Helen Agnes Murdock

Miss Brackenridge-7:40 PM-Trees Siding, Dorothy Rupert

Miss Tarentum-7:35 PM-Tarentum Carbarn, Madeline Britton

Miss Creighton-7:45 PM-Crucible Siding, Martha Hill

Miss Parnassus-7:50 PM-Parnassus end of line, Florence Hankey

Miss New Kensington-7:55 PM- New Kensington office, Elizabeth Surowski

Miss Springdale-8:00 PM-Springdale Siding, Charlotte Fisher

Miss Blawnox-9:05 PM-Blawnox Avenue, Sarah Ireland



These cars will not be in the procession.

Miss Glassmere-7:40 PM-Crucible Siding, Helen Wilson

Miss Arnold-7:45 PM-Arnold end of line, Lois Slocum

Miss Cheswick-8:25 PM-Highland Avenue, Edna May Davis

Miss Aspinwall-9:15 PM-Aspinwall, Nancy Lee



The 12 cars cost the company $200,000.


Car 832, Miss Brackenridge,  is set to undergo restoration at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.
http://www.pa-trolley.org/Roster/WP832.htm

http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/NKDD-1930-2-13-pg9-AVSRCValentine

http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/VDN-1930-2-13-pg20-AVSRC.jpg