[PRCo] Re: 'maybe' not East McKeesport

[Edward H. Lybarger]

The first line to East McKeesport and Wilmerding was installed by a West
Penn underlier, and was abandoned in 1903 or 1904 in favor of the PRC route
which is today's highway.  That said, we need always to remember that East
McKeesport is on top of a hill and does not, nor ever did, enjoy railroad
service.  Likewise, it has no stream of any consequence flowing through it.
Ditto the part of McKeesport served by Highland Grove Traction Company.

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org] On Behalf Of Phillip
Clark Campbell
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 3:29 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: 'maybe' not East McKeesport

Mr.Swindler!

Looking at various maps, this makes more sense now doesn't it.
At one time a line operated between McKeesport and Wilmerding.
E-McKeesport is next door neighbor.  Some quotes:

"East McKeesport is a borough located four miles north of the Monongahela
River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
It is bounded on three sides
by North Versailles and on the north by
the borough of Wilmerding. The
borough, which has an altitude of 1200 feet, is located on a beautiful
plateau sandwiched between the Turtle Creek, Monongahela, and Youghiogheny
Valleys.
The area of the community is 0.4 square miles."

"At No. 51 December Sessions 1893,
the Court ordered and decreed 

incorporation of the borough of East
McKeesport as petitioned to be granted."

"At the time of the
incorporation of the borough, a toll-gate had stood for many years at the
intersection of what is now the Lincoln Highway and Fifth Avenue. 
This toll-gate was not owned or
operated by the state but by a stock
company and was later removed
by a resident, Thomas H. Taylor."

"A short time after the borough was incorporated, Council granted the
Pittsburgh Railway Company the right to lay tracks through the borough on
Broadway. As a result of this action, street car service became available to
Wilmerding and McKeesport. The fare was five cents and service was available
every ten minutes. 

Sometime later the tracks were
moved from Broadway to Fifth Avenue."

http://eastmckeesportboro.com/history.htm

In other photos at this website is a toll gate, but they were as plentiful
as autos in those days.  Interesting but hardly useful for this
identification.

While a very general history it does give some information doesn't it.  All
but the RR.  The railroad doesn't have to be in town but somewhere between
McKee and E-Mc.

A double track jct on the east end of the 87-line station street Goes 

east some more then makes a big arc to head SW to McKeesport.

The PRC line mentioned above is 'apparently' on the Museum map.
It starts inside the arc to McKeesport making a large arc itself, then heads
SW on Broadway - later one block east on 5th, then abruptly heads north for
another connection near the West end of the 87-line Station Street, all
single track.

When the double track line nears McKeesport there is another single 

track line parallel (to the west) following the curve of the 

Monongahela to the bridge over the Monongahela that was WP used by the 68. 
All this just NW of the Pirl St. Loop where the double track line from
Wilmerding joins the McKeesport line.

I submit that what Mr.Swindler indicates as E-McKeesport is possibly in this
area and the "Highland Grove Traction Company" that operated the single
track line connecting to WP 'may' be the one in the photo.
This location allows for RR tracks.

This location north east of McKeesport proper 'may easily fit' the photo
here.  This is an interesting challenge and discussion; all contributions
are highly informative and reasonable.


Phil

I find the following quote worht a little sarcastic chuckle:

"The first action of the [School] Board was to levy a tax of six mills....."

For a country founded on a Tax Revolution, the first action of the
"Grandsons" of the founding Fathers as a new school board is to tax!





>________________________________
> From: John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
>
>How about "east of McKeesport"???
>
>> From: pcc_sr at yahoo.com
>
>> I wondered the same about a river, Mr.Swindler.
>> Coupling that with Mr.Barry's comments make the position of RR and 
>> Trolley track seemed reversed doesn't it.  RRs often follow river 
>> valleys.  Seems to be a rather large yard possible here, or several 
>> passing tracks.  The few RR cars seem to be on a grade compared to 
>> the "main" in the foreground.
>> 
>> Mr.Brannon noted the foliage; the hill seems steep and high for Pgh. 
>> area.  Because of OH reference I
>> 
>> thought of Ohio River Valley of Wheeling area.  It has been 5-decades 
>> since being that way; I can't remember steepness of hills.
>> 
>> To reconsider the E-McKeesport link I am looking at the WP maps along 
>> the Youghiogheny yet all alignments here seem to put the RR against 
>> the river cancelling the alignment in the picture.  I was never along 
>> this river so am not familiar with the hills; they would still seem 
>> to be lower than those in the picture.
>> 
>> The WP map shows "East McKeesport" as between Wilmerding and 
>> Trafford.  There is a creek/river and RR running east-west; the RR 
>> branches to both sides of the river east of E-McKeesport.  This would 
>> then suggest the Trafford line.  Hills here seemed to be higher than 
>> those closer to Pgh.  Still much of the trolley line allowed the RR 
>> closer to the river as I remember, at least latter day alignment.  
>> Mr.Barry may have hit the nail on the head.
>> 
>> "East McKeesport" must be marked on the photograph for it to be 
>> included here.  Whether location or address of photographer or other 
>> could be debated.
>> 
>> It seems the Stewarts left one "key word" out of their
>> description:  "1974"  Anyone familiar with local or PA state license 
>> plates in 1906?
>> 
>> Has everyone assured their Black Friday deals?
>> 
>> Phil
>
>> >________________________________
>> > From: John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
>
>> >I was wondering if there was a river off of the left side of the
picture????  The collection includes some pix from southern Ohio.  Could
this have been enroute, perhaps around the Steubenville area??  As a
disclaimer, this is total speculation NOT based on any evidence.
>> >
>> >Happy Thanksgiving holiday
>> >John
>> >
>> >> From: mrb190 at pitt.edu
>
>> >> The first thing that came to my mind was that it was the Trafford
route. But, the railroad tracks should be below the streetcar tracks.... Not
sure.
>> >> ________________________________________
>> >> From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org 
>> >> [pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org] On Behalf Of 
>> >> Derrick Brashear [shadow at gmail.com]
>
>> >> so where the heck is it?
>> >> http://bradystewartphoto.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/20th-Centu
>> >> ry-Automobiles-Trucks-and-Boats/G0000flbWWbccdiw/I0000RZxXcxRETYA
>> >> 
>> >> Derrick
>