Pittsburgh Trolley's

[jvstretch]

At one time, Pittsburgh had one of the largest PCC cars in operation. It was a good idea then, could it be a good idea now. Lot's of cities returning to Trolley service. Check out Trains July Issue

[seppburgh2]

You are correct.  The issue with PAT is by the late 90's only the Drake line ran the PCCs as the new cars could not take the tight end loop plus the signal system was out-dated.  The PCCs and the Drake line were removed when a newer, digital (?) signal system was installed.  It was cheaper to close the line and retire the cars than spend millions upgrading a hand-full of cars.  Think is was back in 99.

Will leave with a little SteelTown trolley story.  PAT knew how the people LOVED their trolley.  The last week of operations was run for free!  I meet old folks telling me how they met on the trolley,  young folks with newborns just so they say 'you rode the last trolley', and heard many stores in-between.  And the kids were right, it was fun sticking your head out the back window while going down the line!

The real last run was a charter of 3 cars made for the trolley group out of Washington PA.  

[daveklepper]

I first saw Pittsburgh in June 1949, with John Stern and Bill (giggles) Watson.  We came to Greensburg on the PRR, rode West Penn for two days, then rode a morning PRR commuter to Pittsburgh.  Coming from Manhattan, bereft of the streetcars that I had known and loved, Pittsburgh then seemed like Paridise, with nearly every downtown street hosting one or two well-used streetcar tracks.  We first went back in the direction we came from, the Arlington line (?) and Trafford, the east end of the system, noting the switch still in place in the loop to a paved-over track that went towards Irving and via West Penn, then with two transfers and a slightly different route, via Forbes to downtown, the extreme west end of the system at Sewickly.  Then super-scenic Fineview, with its magnificent view of all of the city, then to McKeesport, to ride the Homewood shuttle, first experience with a deck-roof, double-end lightweight.  John Stern knew where to stop to eat, and I recall an excellent Italian meal with Ravioli.  Long before my Kosher days!  In the evening we kept on riding, I think on one of the lines to a northern suburb.   One of the other railfans that we met on the fan trip on West Penn that was the second of our two days there joined us, and I roomed with him while John and Giggles shared another hotel room.   In Greensburg, the three of us shared on room, with me in a roll-in bed.  I think we each ended up paying only two dollars, for six dollars total for the three of us.  The second Pittsburgh day was Castle Shannon, then Charleroi-Roscoe, Donorra, Washington Junction, Washington, East-West in Washington, then back to Pittsburgh for another overnight in coach on the PRR to New York.