[PRCo] Re: Standard Gauge Car Availability

[Edward H. Lybarger]

It's entirely possible that SEL+BVT could make money where West Penn
subsidiaries couldn't.  Sort of like the short line railroads doing OK where
the Class 1s couldn't.  What's the corporate overhead burden?

And this was the time during which they were defaulting on WTC's bonds,
wasn't it?

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org] On Behalf Of Dwight
Long
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 6:10 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
Subject: [PRCo] Standard Gauge Car Availability


Ed

To the best of my knowledge, the SEL&BVT never went bankrupt during the
depression, so your thesis is likely right on target.

However, I hardly think C.A. Smith was motivated entirely by civic
consciousness.  He must have expected that the line would make some
money--and if he could, why would West Penn not want to help their bottom
line?  Or was it just different perceptions of the same facts?

I think the standard gauge CAR issue was bogus as WTC did a lot of changing
back and forth between standard and broad gauge trucks under their cars. 
(Maybe there was a shortage of standard gauge TRUCKS?)

Dwight


----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward H. Lybarger" <trams2 at comcast.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 5:37 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: October 1903 One Trolley Car Left


>I would suspect it was simple...one made money and the other didn't!  There
> are photos of a big construction project, where that line went under the
> railroad, that resulted in a much safer alignment.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org
> [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org] On Behalf Of Dwight
> Long
> Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 4:40 PM
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: October 1903 One Trolley Car Left
>
>
> Ed
>
> Interestingly enough, West Penn, through their Wheeling Traction (or was 
> it
> Panhandle in corporate form) used the same argument to avoid resuming
> service on the Steubenville to Brilliant line during the depression. (The
> line had been closed for a year or so for some sort of a construction
> project) This resulted in the service being turned over to the SEL&BVT, 
> who
> resumed it much to the delight of the local citizenry.
>
> Dwight
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Edward H. Lybarger" <trams2 at comcast.net>
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org>
> Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 1:02 PM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: October 1903 One Trolley Car Left
>
>
>> This is a condensation of the article that appeared first in the
>> Connellsville Courier.  That article makes even more egregious statements
>> about gauge..."The Suburban is the only narrow gauge street railway in
>> Pennsylvania.  In fact, there are few, if any, of them in other States at
>> the present time."
>>
>> The point, of course, is that Connellsville Suburban was standard gauge
>> while all of the rest of West Penn was broad gauge.  Either the company
>> spokesman or the newspaperman got a bit overzealous in describing the
>> problem, which was that there weren't enough standard gauge cars to fill
>> the
>> schedule.  The problem was solved with a new franchise, which had been in
>> the works anyway, and broad gauge tracks.
>>
>> Ed
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org
>> [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org] On Behalf Of 
>> Barry,
>> Matthew R
>> Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 12:35 PM
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
>> Subject: [PRCo] October 1903 One Trolley Car Left
>>
>> The Pittsburg, McKeesport & Connellsville Railway
>>
>
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WhQhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=044EAAAAIBAJ&dq=mckee
>> sport%20trolley&pg=1971%2C6837929
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>