[PRCo] Re: Last PRR Pittsburgh - Elrama service

[Dwight Long]

Fred

You are correct.  The RS3s (I don't think the PRR owned RS2s) with steam boilers were ordered in 1951 for 1952 delivery.  The RS3 in essence became the "Pittsburgh Commuter Engine,"  replacing the G5s.

As to the Washington route, I don't think that was the driver.  It had declined to one train a day, for which the PCo had to maintain an outlying terminal at "Little Warshington" and all the related expense.  They simply wanted to get rid of it, regardless of the mode of locomotion.

Ironically, one of the reasons provided by the PCo in applying for abandonment of this service was "the frequent paralleling service provided by Pittsburgh Railways."  Within a year and a month after the PRR train-off, that too was gone.

Dwight
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Fred Schneider 
  To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, 01 September, 2010 18:18
  Subject: [PRCo] Re: Last PRR Pittsburgh - Elrama service


  But they had to have steam heat boilers.  I though they bought a flock of RS2s or RS3s in 1952 to dieselize the Pittsburgh commuter trains.   Washington service may have ended to save buying diesels for it.   If you can find something, then we can amend it.   It wasn't Pittsburgh trolley but I thought you and your Chicago area list member would be happy to read that item.


  On Sep 1, 2010, at 5:58 PM, Derrick Brashear wrote:

  > On Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 4:50 PM, Fred Schneider <fwschneider at comcast.net> wrote:
  >> 
  >> 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.
  >> 
  > 
  > http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D5AcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4I4EAAAAIBAJ&dq=pittsburgh%20smoke%20pennsylvania%20railroad&pg=1702%2C4283860
  > 
  > Well, the switching was already dieselized, so it's conceivable the
  > *division* was using them in 1950. And I bet I could find out.
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > -- 
  > Derrick
  > 
  >