[PRCo] Re: Making sense of the PRC assignments....

[Phillip Clark Campbell]

Mr.Long,

This was "the point" of my mentioning the lack of curves in this corner.
The intersection was never a grand for it lacked the track straight
through on Carson didn't it.  Also note there is only one turn to East
Carson; this is from the tunnel isn't it.  As I wrote previously this
intersection was built progressively.  It is possible the 2nd turn from E.
Carson to the tunnel was built the same time the two turns to W.Carson
were built.  Almost as soon as the turns are built they are no longer
needed are they.

Back in the teens and maybe into the 1920s a single track from W.Carson
to E.Carson did exist but this was removed.  Some maps show just double
track turns to and from E- and W.Carson from the bridge only.


>From the information given by Mr.Schneider about Mr.Dengler's photo of
3756-23 on Grant at Liberty, this suggests that not only the cars and equipment
for the line were based at South Hills but that the line itself was rerouted over
Carson to Smithfield to use the Interurban loop around downtown.  I also
wrote several emails ago I have seen a 23 car on Ft.Pitt coming from
Wood -- a 3750.  "If" the line is rerouted then the cars are on route as 
soon as they pass through the tunnel aren't they.

This would cause no little public confusion but at least excellent alternatives
were available.  Those waiting in the normal downtown location can board
any West End car and transfer.



Phil



________________________________
 From: Dwight Long <dwightlong at verizon.net>
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org 
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 7:42 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Making sense of the PRC assignments....
 

John

Ah, the geography changes.

I was never aware of a time when there were not curves between the tunnel 
and West Carson, but some things that have appeared on this list recently 
suggest that MAYBE that part of the Grand Union was newer than others. 
Perhaps more light will be shed on this. Without it, of course, any cars 
feeding on to Rt. 23 from Tunnel would have to traverse Smithfield St. for 
its length and then go downriver on Liberty--a much less efficient route 
than using West Carson.

I have a very distinct and very sad memory of that very curve.  I was 
standing at the P&LE station inbound car stop when I happened to look toward 
the mouth of the tunnel.  There in a seemingly unending (it did) procession 
came a long line of 3700 and 3800 cars, taking the turn and heading out West 
Carson.  Didn't understand it at the time;  did not know that Ingram was the 
scrap track.  Later I learned the gravity of what I had seen.  That was in 
1952.

Dwight