[PRCo] Re: A streetcar loops that ends at a gas station

Fri Jul 2 14:11:52 EDT 2010

Route 97 was the second of two lines between McKeesport and Wilmerding...and
the one that put the ancestor-of-West Penn line out of business.  The
McKeesport, Duquesne & Wilmerding route was circuitous while the one that
was Route 97 was very direct.

The MD&W line was written up in Street Railway Review in 1894 at page 170.
It's online for those who would like to read it.  The line closed prior to
the 1904 consolidation.  I have the date in a news clipping but not here.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Dwight
Long
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 11:38 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: A streetcar loops that ends at a gas station

John

Rt 53 Carrick used the Tenth Street Bridge and then Carson Street to South
18th Street in later years.  In earlier years it operated on Carson from
South 18th to South 22nd, thence over the Brady Street (South 22nd St.)
Bridge to Forbes and into the Triangle by that street.  This was PRC Rt. 305
of 1914.

In latter years it was possible to short turn Rt. 50 cars (or special moves)
at South 18th Street and South 22nd Street.  In early days there was a maze
of trackage on the South Side and other permutations were possible. There
was one regular route shown turning at 22nd in the 1914 route listing--PRC
route 301A--destination sign 51 (later used on Bon Air shuttle car). At this
time what we know as the "regular" Carson Street route was PRC route 301,
destination sign (then as at the end) 50. Then there was PRC route 310,
Carson Street via 10th Street Bridge, destination sign 52.  The route guide
does not show the outer destination for this route, so it is possible that
it was operated with double end cars and went to South 36th Street, which
would make sense in view of the later destination sign number for the
shuttle car, which is not shown in the 1914 guide. The shuttle from South
30th to South 36th Streets was Rt. 52 in its last days and lasted until  2
August 1950. 

The South 36th Street to Hays shuttle or "transfer car" was shown as route
302 in the 1914 compendium.  I do not have information as to when it was
discontinued, but suspect prior to the Depression.  Fred?  BTW, in 1914
route 313 was destination sign 39--Brookline!  

As to Pirl Street and Rt 97, I don't think there was any connection, as Rt.
97 operated into downtown McKeesport, either to the Ringgold Street terminal
(owing to its ancestry as a West Penn route) or to a short turn location at
the B&O station.  And it was gone by 1931, while Fred shows the Pirl Street
loop as opening in 1938. {RC Rt 407, destination sign 56, turned at the
McKeesport car house until it closed, whenever that was (dates conflict
between 1936 and 1937).  The loop was needed as there was no practical place
to turn single end cars on 407/56 after the 10th Ward once the car house was
lost as a turnaround point. Until it opened, pax coming into McKeesport via
the Calhoun Park route had to transfer to a Glassport car or Wilmerding bus
in order to get to downtown McKeesport.

I recall clearly the Brentwood Loop being taken over by the Boron (we called
it "Moron") gas station.  There was a nice waiting shelter there prior to
this with a newsstand incorporated into it, which was a casualty of the gas
station construction.

I do not have any recollection of gas stations at either Pirl Street or
South 30th Street, but that does not mean they were not there.  Perhaps they
were installed after the tram era.  However, I do recall a gas station (I
think this one was Boron also, but would have to dig out some old slides to
verify this) being constructed on the site of the Glenwood Car House, about
the time Rt. 56 was bustituted.

Hope this helps.

Dwight
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: John Swindler
  To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
  Sent: Thursday, 01 July, 2010 21:53
  Subject: [PRCo] Re: A streetcar loops that ends at a gas station

  Hi Fred

  I think the question concerned PRC leasing terminal property for gas
stations.  In addition to Carrick loop, did this also include Pirl St. and
perhaps 30th St. loop????

  And as for route 313, when was the service cut back from Hays?  Also,
service to 36th St. continued into 1920s - and perhaps longer.  In later
years it was a shuttle between 30th and 36th.  There were four routes on
Carson - two via Smithfield St. bridge and two via 10th St.  One
short-turned around 22nd St., another at 30th, another at 36th and fourth
either at 30th (which was a car barn) or went to Carrick.  (It's been awhile
since I looked at this route info., and too lazy to search in basement.)  

  And as for Pirl St., 98 also terminated there.  Pirl St. might have become
needed when 97 was abandoned or when McKeesport closed.  Have you checked
the property deeds in Allegheny Co. Court house for when property acquired
by PRC???

  There is a pix on digital history site of a low floor car exiting
southbound from McKeesport car house.

  Cheers

  John

  > Subject: [PRCo] Re: A streetcar loops that ends at a gas station
  > From: fwschneider at comcast.net
  > Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 19:08:31 -0400
  > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
  >
  > Route 313 was shortened from 36th to 30th when single-end PAYE cars were
installed February 19, 1913. It remained there until February 26, 1966 when
abandoned.
  >
  > Route 407 ran out of McKeesport car house until it closed. March 15,
1937 shorteneded to 10th Ward, McKeesport because of bridge repairs.
Extended to what may have been a new Pirl Street loop on March 9, 1938. Last
full day of service August 31, 1963.
  >
  >
  > On Jul 1, 2010, at 5:43 PM, John Swindler wrote:
  >
  > >
  > >
  > > Wasn't 56 McKeesport at Pirl St. another??? What about the 50 Carson
at 30th St.???? (75% sure of former, only 25% (guess) of latter - its been a
long time)
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > PRC was just out to make a buck anyway they could.
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > John
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >> From: mrb190 at pitt.edu
  > >> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
  > >> Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:05:12 -0400
  > >> Subject: [PRCo] A streetcar loops that ends at a gas station
  > >>
  > >> Ironic, eh? Anyway, this is a video of the terminus of the 53
Carrick:
  > >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrbhYcrev-Q
  > >>
  > >>
  > >>
  > >>
  > >
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