[PRCo] Re: PRC Rt. 23

[Dwight Long]

Phil

I sent, a few minutes ago, an email to the list which may help in zeroing in on the installation of the curves at the end of the tunnel which I had assumed had been there “forever.”

The tracks on West Carson were indeed removed some time after my last ride over them, which was in February 1954, but well before the bustitution of the West End lines in 1959. The street was repaved in concrete with the rails removed first. It was unrelated to construction of the Penn Lincoln Parkway Bridge.

While you are perhaps correct that OHL often comes down soon after cessation of tram service, particularly in this day and age of high copper prices and propensity of thieves to attack railway installations to “salvage” it, this was not always the case with PRC.  For instance, after the discontinuance of rail service on Rt. 20 in 1951, both the track and OHL remained intact for at least five more years, and maybe all the way to PAT.  I don’t recall when the OHL was finally salvaged, but I remember marveling at the fact that it was intact for so long and noting that to restore rail service on Rts. 17 and 20, all that would have been required would have been the installation of a southwest to northwest curve (only one) at the junction of Rts. 17 and 20 and a northwest to southwest curve off Sandusky to General Robinson (again, only one needed)  But this never happened, possibly because of the potential scheduling difficulty that would have resulted from the long stretch of single track on General Robinson and Shore.  So why did the OHL remain so long?  I really don’t know, but it did.  I’ve also seen the paradoxical situation, but can’t quote time and place, where street tracks were paved over but OHL was left intact!

Dwight




From: Phillip Clark Campbell 
Sent: Tuesday, 21 February, 2012 08:02
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org 
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PRC Rt. 23
I understand now, Mr.Long; you are erring on the side of caution.
This presents a challenge in getting pictures to you.  One can
include your email address in CC: when sending the pictures;
this may be the best -- if one remembers.
The list has apparently worked with the Url clicks for some time,
and successfully.  They are clearly identified on the bottom of the
page.  To my knowledge none of these Urls have caused anyone
problems.


Now that we share the fact that the turns to W.Carson from the
Tunnel are a latter 1940s addition it clears the air on accessibility to West
End from tunnel doesn't it.  I have some ideas I would like to share
for your consideration.  Our deductions do "not" prove anything
but rather suggest an area to investigate for the facts.  I shall
send these in another email.  I need to re-read some recent emails
and search for some that are missing.  Apparently yahoo is
experiencing hiccups again // still; about half-dozen emails from
the last day or two have not arrived.  I checked the Pgh. website after
being alerted.


Please note the Intersection of Smithfield and Carson remained
"intact" -- track and overhead -- until pat days when the overhead was
simplified.  Construction for the 'new' point bridge may have severed
the link on Carson but as trolleys did not operate there I did not see
it.  Overhead often comes down very fast when some area is taken
out of service.  Track removal is another matter isn't it.  Paving over
is often the 'remedy' isn't it!

If Smithfield was discussed recently as an alternative for West End lines
my apologies for not reading.  I don't remember these emails; I do 

remember that this alternative is in the archives so I either skipped these
or did not read them.  The discussion about the turns from Tunnel to
W.Carson is also a part of the archives, it has been discussed before.
I just remember the latter 1940s, not the specific date.

 
Phil


________________________________
From: Dwight Long <dwightlong at verizon.net>
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org 
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 11:49 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PRC Rt. 23
 
Phil

I am well aware that the links are there.  The photos are not there.  My ole 
granpappy done tole me, "Son, never klik on links.  There be dragons there."

It is my practice to embed them in my emails but the dreaded villainous 
Ecartis sees that such is never carried out when the message arrives at the 
computers of the addressees.

Dwight