[PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal

Tue Oct 22 16:38:33 EDT 2013

There were six steam fantrips on the P&LE between Pittsburgh and Brownsville Jct. in 1975 and 1976, all sponsored by the Allegheny RR, a project of Steam Tours in Akron: 
On the weekend of Sept. 20-21, 1975, ex-GTW 2-8-2 4070 pulled the train. Attached are a couple of the photos I took that weekend: 

- Leaving the P&LE station on 9/20/75, with PAT 1704 on the Smithfield St. Bridge. 

- Crossing the Monongahela River between the USS Homestead Works and Rankin on 9/21/75. 

On the weekends of May 15-16 and 22-23, 1976, ex-Reading 4-8-4 2102 pulled the train. 

Bob 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Herb Brannon" <hrbran at cavtel.net> 
To: "Western PA Trolley discussion" <pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 2:45:30 PM 
Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal 

Bob & Dwight, 
Interesting in that photo of the Clairton Works is the steam locomotive. 
That was a railfan trip run by perhaps Midwest Railway Historical Society. 
That may not be who ran the trip but I was on that train. I remember it was 
a moderately long trip down the Mon Valley. Maybe one of you remember 
exactly who ran the trip. 

On Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 3:37 PM, Dwight Long <dwightlong at verizon.net> wrote: 

> 
> Bob 
> 
> The Corporation would probably claim that the steam loco was generating 
> more pollution than their coke works. 
> 
> Dwight 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Bob Rathke 
>   To: Western PA Trolley discussion 
>   Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 1:00 AM 
>   Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal 
> 
> 
>   I'm not sure if this is still the situation, but attached is a photo of 
> the Clairton Coke Works that I took in 1975. 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
> 
>   From: "Dwight Long" <dwightlong at verizon.net> 
>   To: "Western PA Trolley discussion" < 
> pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org> 
>   Cc: "Dennis Lamont" <ge13031 at yahoo.com> 
>   Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 9:53:05 PM 
>   Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal 
> 
> 
>   Herb 
> 
>   But Irvin works is not a primary producer but rather a rolling mill (as 
> you said) and so would not generate the "fire and brimstone" that 
> characterized a primary steel producer. 
> 
>   I went by Clairton on a train in July and did not notice any smoke at 
> all, just some condensed water vapor. I think the coking processes are so 
> contained these days that very little emissions emanate from it. Besides 
> environmental concerns, the steelmakers have learned that the effluents 
> from the coke making process are valuable by products that need to be 
> trapped and sold. The days of the beehive coke ovens that spewed all the 
> byproducts into the atmosphere are long gone. 
> 
>   Dwight 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Herb Brannon 
>   To: Western PA Trolley discussion 
>   Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 10:41 PM 
>   Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal 
> 
> 
>   Bob R, 
>   It still had that "orange glow" when I first moved here in 1972. Plus, 
> when 
>   atmospheric conditions were right, it smelled like fire & brimstone, 
>   everywhere. Even today, on humid days, I still smell the "fire & 
>   brimstone" coming from the Irvin Works just over the hill (on Camp Hollow 
>   Rd) to the south-east of my place. 
> 
>   Contrary to popular opinion steel is not dead in Pittsburgh. The Clairton 
>   Works still produces coke as it always did, the Edgar Thompson Works 
> makes 
>   primary steel, the Irvin Works produces rolled steel and the relatively 
> new 
>   Mckeesport Tubular Works (old National Works, now reopened) makes tubular 
>   products for the Marcellus Shale drilling industry. So the sulphur and 
> fire 
>   & brimstone can still be smelled on humid days and the orange glow is 
> still 
>   available in Braddock and Clairton. 
> 
> 
>   On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 2:46 PM, Bob Rathke <bobrathke at comcast.net> 
> wrote: 
> 
>   > Driving south from Zelienople at night in the 1950's you didn't need a 
>   > compass to locate Pittsburgh - the sky there always had an orange glow. 
>   > 
>   > ----- Original Message ----- 
>   > 
>   > From: "John Swindler" <j_swindler at hotmail.com> 
>   > To: "Western PA Trolley discussion" < 
>   > pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org> 
>   > Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 10:16:09 AM 
>   > Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal 
>   > 
>   > 
>   > 
>   > Was chatting with some PTM visitors yesterday, and among the "Pittsburg 
>   > smells" mentioned was J&L sulfur smell upon exiting Squirrel Hill 
> Tunnels 
>   > and heading downgrade to Brady St. exit. They were old enough to 
> remember 
>   > air pollution from late 1940s - (before my time). 
>   > 
>   > 
>   > 
>   > 
>   > > From: dwightlong at verizon.net 
>   > > To: pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org 
>   > > Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:04:35 -0400 
>   > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal 
>   > > 
>   > > 
>   > > Herb 
>   > > 
>   > > In Beaver burning next to the curb was OK on concrete streets (we 
> lived 
>   > on one) or brick ones (still several left in the 50s) but not on 
> asphalt 
>   > nor tarred ones! 
>   > > 
>   > > Tar? When I was in first or second grade I came home from school for 
>   > lunch. On the way back to school the alley that I used as a shortcut 
> was 
>   > being freshly tarred. I followed the tar dispensing truck, fascinated. 
>   > When I got to school I was sent home immediately. I looked like the 
>   > proverbial tarbaby. Lots of turpentine and stiff scrubbing later, and a 
>   > new suit of clothes, I returned and was admitted. 
>   > > 
>   > > And we still had plenty of coal furnaces in our town back then, 
> although 
>   > our house used gas. I well recall the smell of the coal burning on cold 
>   > winter days whilst delivering the Pittsburgh Press to my paper route 
>   > customers. The last time I encountered that smell was just a few years 
> ago 
>   > in a suburb of Budapest while fotting the trams there. Brought back 
> many 
>   > memories! 
>   > > 
>   > > Dwight 
>   > > 
>   > > From: Herb Brannon 
>   > > Sent: Monday, 21 October, 2013 10:48 
>   > > To: Western PA Trolley discussion 
>   > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves 
>   > > When I was a child, in Akron, the common practice was to burn the 
> leaves 
>   > > in the street but along the curb stones. Sometimes the piles of 
> leaves 
>   > were 
>   > > so large that the fires would become too large and would spread to 
> the 
>   > > treelawn. Then the fire department would be called to put out the 
> fires. 
>   > It 
>   > > made for an exciting day or evening. Ranking right up there with the 
>   > smell 
>   > > of burning leaves are also the smell of coal smoke and the smell of 
> fresh 
>   > > tar.............three of the "little joys of life" now gone by the 
>   > wayside. 
>   > > 
>   > > 
>   > > On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 10:33 AM, Dwight Long < 
> dwightlong at verizon.net 
>   > >wrote: 
>   > > 
>   > > > 
>   > > > Herb 
>   > > > 
>   > > > I can remember back in the 50s coming back to Beaver from auto 
> trips to 
>   > > > the East that involved the Pa Turnpike—we would use the Warrendale 
>   > exit and 
>   > > > the back roads to Beaver. Coming down into the (Beaver) valley off 
> the 
>   > > > hill the whole floor of the valley would be engulfed in leaf smoke. 
>   > > > 
>   > > > Unhealthy, they say, but it sure did convey the impression that 
> Autumn 
>   > was 
>   > > > upon us! 
>   > > > 
>   > > > Dwight 
>   > > > 
>   > > > From: Herb Brannon 
>   > > > Sent: Sunday, 20 October, 2013 10:36 
>   > > > To: Western PA Trolley discussion 
>   > > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] Phil asked about music 
>   > > > You mentioned something I really miss.............the smell of 
> burning 
>   > > > leaves in October. 
>   > > > 
>   > > > 
>   > > > On Sun, Oct 20, 2013 at 8:37 AM, DF Cramer < 
> alto_trombone at hotmail.com 
>   > > > >wrote: 
>   > > > 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > Well, what have I been up to? The beginning of the month I 
> performed 
>   > > > > Copland, Brahms, & Dvorak with the Butler County Symphony,our (my 
>   > wife 
>   > > > > plays cello) 28th season with the ensemble. I am back at IUP and 
>   > > > delivered 
>   > > > > two arrangements of French Noels from the Baroque period to 
> begin the 
>   > > > > semester and last week conducted a first reading of my "The 
> Eternal 
>   > > > Flame", 
>   > > > > a commemorative piece for double trombone choir and narrator I 
> wrote 
>   > to 
>   > > > > mark the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. All of 
> that 
>   > will 
>   > > > be 
>   > > > > performed on November 19 at the university. Next week I perform 
> with 
>   > IUP 
>   > > > > brass & organ faculty at Zion Lutheran in Indiana for Reformation 
>   > Sunday 
>   > > > > and the following week we are doing Charlie Chaplin's "City 
> Lights" 
>   > in 
>   > > > > Butler. Chaplin created the musical score for this silent film 
> and we 
>   > > > will 
>   > > > > be showing the film as we perform. (Side note: if you want 
> tickets 
>   > let me 
>   > > > > know as soon as possible--I usually get 4 free ones) 
>   > > > > Other than that, I spent quality time with Ed at the Alle-Kiski 
>   > > > Historical 
>   > > > > Society, led a new operator training class at PTM, printed and 
>   > stuffed 
>   > > > > ballots for PTM, and am going to the opera today to see Aida 
>   > (football 
>   > > > fan 
>   > > > > alert--Franco Harris is leading the Grand March in the opera 
> today) 
>   > > > > I spend lots of time practicing and cleaning up leaves. I mulch 
>   > some and 
>   > > > > burn others---yes we are still permitted to burn here. 
>   > > > > If you missed it--I also performed at the PTM 50th Anniversary 
>   > luncheon. 
>   > > > > See the most recent issue of PTM Trolley Fare, Fred Schneider 
> took 
>   > some 
>   > > > > great images. 
>   > > > > Dennis F. Cramer 
>   > > > > http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/ 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > > Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 05:49:49 -0700 
>   > > > > > From: pcc_sr at yahoo.com 
>   > > > > > To: pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org 
>   > > > > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] still having issues 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > Stereo-vision isn't it Mr.Cramer! Soapbox opportunity; make the 
>   > most 
>   > > > of 
>   > > > > it! 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > You have not recently mentioned anything about your concert or 
>   > music 
>   > > > > engagements. 
>   > > > > > I find them fascinating. Music is not at all unlike laughter is 
>   > it; 
>   > > > > both speak a universal language. 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > Yes; BB are the last posts I have seen. There was not much of 
>   > anything 
>   > > > > before your BB posts for several weeks. You mentioned a book in 
>   > relation 
>   > > > > to this; please tell more. 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > Phil 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > -------------------------------------------- 
>   > > > > > On Sat, 10/19/13, DF Cramer <alto_trombone at hotmail.com> wrote: 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > Subject: [PRCo] still having issues 
>   > > > > > To: "pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org" < 
>   > > > > pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org> 
>   > > > > > Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013, 3:52 AM 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > it seemed very interesting that after 
>   > > > > > I posted on the list, several emails came through. I assume 
> people 
>   > > > were 
>   > > > > responding with reply all. I have received no posts from the list 
>   > other 
>   > > > > than those dealing with Billy Baxter. 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > Dennis F. Cramer 
>   > > > > > http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/ 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > 
>   > > > > > _______________________________________________ 
>   > > > > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list 
>   > > > > > Pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org 
>   > > > > > 
> https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > 
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>   > > > > 
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>   > > > > 
>   > > > 
>   > > > 
>   > > > 
>   > > > -- 
>   > > > Herb Brannon 
>   > > > *In Pittsburgh...* 
>   > > > *......the Greatest City In The U.S.* 
>   > > > Let's Go Pens 
>   > > > Let's Go Steelers 
>   > > > 
>   > > > 
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>   > > > 
>   > > 
>   > > 
>   > > 
>   > > -- 
>   > > Herb Brannon 
>   > > *In Pittsburgh...* 
>   > > *......the Greatest City In The U.S.* 
>   > > Let's Go Pens 
>   > > Let's Go Steelers 
>   > > 
>   > > 
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> 
>   -- 
>   Herb Brannon 
>   *In Pittsburgh...* 
>   *......the Greatest City In The U.S.* 
>   Let's Go Pens 
>   Let's Go Steelers 
> 
> 
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-- 
Herb Brannon 
*In Pittsburgh...* 
*......the Greatest City In The U.S.* 
Let's Go Pens 
Let's Go Steelers 

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