[PRCo] Re: Last PRR Pittsburgh - Elrama service

[Dwight Long]

Fred

Well, I learned something from this.  I had always thought that the truncated service to Elrama lasted until the end of the Pittsburgh area commuter service in November, 1964.  Did some checking and the results agree with the article.

Thanks for clarifying that.

Dwight

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Fred Schneider 
  To: Pittsburgh-Railways at Dementia.Org ; Matthew R Barry ; Ed Lybarger 
  Sent: Wednesday, 01 September, 2010 16:50
  Subject: [PRCo] Last PRR Pittsburgh - Elrama service



  http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n0IqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EE8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5705%2C2405225


  Note:   I think there is an error in this.   PRR bought diesels in 1952 for the area service.   I don't believe that steam ended there in 1950.
   

   

  Pittsburgh Press, August 9, 1963, page 2       

   

  Train Retires with Bethel Park Man

   

  Conductor Punches Out Just in the Nick of Time

  Elrama Run Last Tonight

   

   

     Albert C. Lee, a passenger conductor for the Pennsylvania Railroad, retired today - just in the nick of time.

   

     Tomorrow he wouldn't have a train to conduct.

   

     For the past year, Mr. Lee has been punching tickets on the Pittsburgh - Elrama run of the railroad's Monongahela Division, the last train operating on the one much traveled line.

   

      When the two-car local returns to Elrama tonight, it will also retire.

   

      Mr. Lee recalled that when he started railroading shortly after World War I the steam engine was king.

   

     "The steam engine looked like an engine should," the veteran said.  "It seemed like more of a railroad then without diesels."

   

     The Monongahela Division didn't begin using the diesels until 1950.

   

     "We were the last ones to get them," Mr. Lee said almost proudly.

   

     Mr. Lee has sold his home at 3501 Thornwood Dr., Bethel Park, and will move with his wife to Ft. Myers, Fla. Next week.

   

     "I'd sooner go down by train," he said, "but I'll drive because I have to get my car down there."