[PRCo] Re: Tunnel Picture

[Herb Brannon]

This is what I remember from the tunnel reconstruction timeperiod when I
operated PCCs through the tunnel, five or more days per week, several times
per day.
During the period of tunnel reconstruction in the mid-1970s there was a
crossover located in the same position as the one in this photo. While the
tunnel was being rebuilt streetcars used it only in the peak direction. That
is, inbound from 4:30am until 10:30am then outbound from 2:30pm until
7:00pm. Opposite bound cars and all cars during NON-peak periods used the
"over the hill" route via Warrington and Arlington Avenues.

I magnified this photo and, in spite of the poor quality, seem to see an
operator on the "porch" of the Administration Building in what APPEARS to be
a modern type of PATransit uniform. Also, rail can be seen, stacked, just
inside the tunnel. The small shed at the right of the tunnel portal was used
during the reconstruction for a flagman who protected the construction
company equipment. You will also note the planking placed at the sides and
in between the rails just past the portal. This type of planking was used
during the construction period to allow construction vehicles to enter and
leave the tunnel. What appears to be asphalt (looks like "coldpatch") has
been "roughed in" along the left side of the inbound track south of the
portal along with a railroad-tie type of rough curb, then the former
mentioned planks begin. Now, as for the double block signal. I remember that
it was in place, but not operating, during the construction. As time went on
that signal was the target of dump trucks and backhoes and was finally
reduced to an upright post with only one of the battered signals remaining.

Noteworthy is the fact that during the construction the tunnel was done one
side at a time. This method was used so that the other side could be used
for streetcars. In order to accommodate all the overhead equipment needed to
keep the tunnel fume free, do to the buses which would be using it, the
tunnel floor was lowered several feet. During the initial phase of
construction the portion used by streetcars was higher than the side being
worked on. In looking at this photo it MAY be that the inbound side is
higher than the outbound side. Or, it may just be the poor quality of the
photo.

Things in the photo point to it being taken in the 1970s. Then again, other
things may leave a doubt to it being in the 1970s. However, more items point
toward the 1970s rather than away from that time. I would bet more on a
"made up" photo.

On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 14:08, Fred Schneider <fwschneider at comcast.net>wrote:

> Car 3756 was borrowed from the museum and operated for perhaps a week
> downtown in the 1970s.    The tunnel was single tracked for paving for the
> busway in April 1975 but the pictures I took show outbound cars on the
> inbound track crossing back over to the normal outbound track outside the
> mouth of the tunnel.   The link shows a crossover inside the portal of the
> tunnel.
>
> Wonder if it is concocted?
>
>
>
> On Feb 10, 2011, at 11:33 PM, Ray wrote:
>
> > Hello. I found this on webshots.  Can anyone elaborate on the
> > possible year this is and what looks like a crossover before entering
> > the tunnel?
> > Thanks
> >
> > Ray
> >
> >
> > -- Attached file removed by Ecartis and put at URL below --
> > -- Type: image/jpeg
> > -- Size: 22k (22885 bytes)
> > -- URL :
> http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/webshots14%20tunnel.jpg
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>


-- 
Herb Brannon
In Cuyahoga Valley National Park