[PRCo] Wilmerding, 1905

[Edward H. Lybarger]

They all look the same, indeed, but it's a much more substantial ticky-tacky
than Malvina Reynolds wrote about in "Little Boxes!"  Some of them are so
substantial that they're still occupied.  Yes, the idea was to make
employees proud to live there...an attitude not necessarily prevalent in all
the coal patches, though H C. Frick Coke was an exception and offered prizes
and incentives for upkeep.  George Westinghouse was different...he meant it.
Not all the coal operators did.

The trestle construction was conventional; there were few autos in 1905.  In
1907, when West Penn Railways was constructing its Brownsville line, it
selected the new-fangled reinforced concrete construction for several
bridges, two of which still stand (abandoned) near the mining communities of
Allison.  The photographer for the nearby Monongahela Railway found this to
be unusual and exposed several glass plates thinking that this was something
that might be useful to the steam road.  But most trolley viaducts were more
conventional.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounces at mailman.dementix.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounces at mailman.dementix.org] On Behalf Of
Phillip Clark Campbell
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 1:22 PM
To: Western PA Trolley discussion
Subject: Re: [PRCo] Wilmerding, 1905

It is stunning isn't it Mr.Lybarger!  I noted the uniformity and freshness
but not the company aspect.  It reminds me of that song from decades ago:

There are houses on the hillside
they are all made of ticky-tacky.
They are all made of ticky-tacky
and they all look just the same.

I believe we are looking inbound on the 87-line trestle as we knew it; the
curve at 'Trafford jct' is correct isn't it.

Do you know the date Mr.Brashear?  It appears the trestle is 'paved' doesn't
it.  It appears as a trolley only trestle in construction.  While it is
often mentioned that such were eventually paved for other traffic, maybe
this was a requirement of original building.  The rwy. used the least
expensive pavement of wood planks.  Does this sound logical Mr.Lybarger?

Imagine the pride of lving in such a beautiful location; such may have
motivated employee devotion and productivity.

It must be Monday; look at all the was on the lines.


Phil



--- On Wed, 2/20/13, Edward H. Lybarger <ehlybarger at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Edward H. Lybarger <ehlybarger at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [PRCo] Wilmerding, 1905
To: "'Western PA Trolley discussion'"
<pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org>
Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 7:39 AM

What a wonderful view of a company town!

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounces at mailman.dementix.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounces at mailman.dementix.org] On Behalf Of
Derrick Brashear
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 9:46 AM
To: Pittsburgh Railways Group
Subject: [PRCo] Wilmerding, 1905

http://www.steelcactus.com/OLD_PGH_17.jpg

viaduct with spans for trolley wire visible if you zoom.

--
Derrick



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