Pittsburgh Railways
Encyclopedia
Pittsburgh Railways was one of the predecessors of the Port Authority of Allegheny County
. It had 666 PCC
cars, the third largest fleet in North America. It had 68 street car routes, of which only three (until April 5, 2010 the 42
series, the 47
series, and 52) are used by the Port Authority as light rail
routes. With the Port Authority's Transit Development Plan, many route names will be changed to its original, such as the 41D Brookline becoming the 39 Brookline. Many of the streetcar routes have been remembered in the route names of many Port Authority buses (e.g. 71 series).
The Southern Traction Company acquired the lease of the West End Traction Company on October 1, 1900. Pittsburgh Railways was formed on January 1, 1902, when the Southern Traction Company acquired operating rights over the Consolidated Traction Company and United Traction Company. The new company operated 1,100 trolleys on 400 miles (643.7 km) of track, with 178.7 million passengers and revenues of $6.7 million on the year.
Unfortunately the lease and operate business model proved hard to support and the company declared bankruptcy twice, first in 1918 lasting for 6 years and then again in 1938, this time lasting until January 1, 1951.
On 26 July 1936 Pittsburgh Railways took delivery of PCC streetcar
No. 100 from the St. Louis Car Company
. It was placed in revenue service in August 1936, the first revenue earning PCC in the world.
Large scale abandonments of lines began in the late 1950's, usually associated with highway or bridge work.
precipitated the abandonment of many routes to the West End, all on June 21, 1959. Pittsburgh Railways Company was engaged in ongoing litigation over the failure of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission to provide streetcar tracks on the new bridge. In the end the company was allowed to abandon 27 miles (43.5 km) of street track in situ and was awarded $300,000 as compensation. However, this was the beginning of the end for trolleys in Pittsburgh and would be followed by the abandonment of 90% of the network over the next 10 years.
trolley system linking Pittsburgh with towns in Washington County
such as Washington
, Charleroi
and Roscoe
.
, with the construction of a small street railway by the Monongahela City Street Railway Company. In 1900 the line was extended north to Riverview
and in 1901 extended south to Black Diamond Mine. Here it turned inland, south along Black Dam Hollow (the old private right of way is now known as Trolley Lane). It met the northern end of the newly constructed (1899) Charleroi & West Side Street Railway at the now disused Lock number 4 in North Charleroi.
The Charleroi interurban line was cut back to the Allegheny County
border at Library (Simmons loop) in June 1953 It continued to run until the 1980s as 35 Shannon-Library and became the southern portion of 47L Library via Overbrook when Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) replaced trolleys. The trolley loop was removed in 2004. In 2010 this line became the Blue Line – Library.
This in turn became the southern portion of 42 South Hills Village
(excluding the new link from Dorchester
to South Hills Village
, which was built in 1984). The final portion of the interurban from Dorchester to Drake was renamed 47 Drake
, finally closing in 1999 and bringing to an end PCC Streetcar operation in Pittsburgh.
Several of the 1700 cars were rebuilt by PAT in 1981.
A number of the later cars were rebuilt by the Port Authority of Allegheny County
and passed into preservation.
}
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|First permanent electric line in Pittsburgh, Second Avenue Traction Co. Short turn of the 56.
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|58
|Greenfield
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|59
|Homeville - Homestead
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|Double-ended shuttle
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|60
|East Liberty-Homestead
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|Some cars extended to serve Kennywood Park, signed East Liberty-Kennywood
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|62
|Trafford
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|63
|Trafford City Express
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|63
|Corey Avenue, Braddock
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|Double-ended shuttle
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|64
|East Pittsburgh via Wilkinsburg
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|65
|Hawkins and North Braddock
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|65
|Munhall-Lincoln Place
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|66
|East and West Wilkinsburg via Forbes
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|67
|Swissvale, Rankin and Braddock
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|Replaced by bus service 61B Braddock - Swissvale
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|68
|McKeesport via Homestead and Duquesne
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|Served Kennywood Park. Longest line on the system (13.8 miles)
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|69
|Larimer via Ellsworth
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|69
|Squirrel Hill
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|70
|North Highland
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|71
|Centre and Negley
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|Later called Negley-Highland Park
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|72
|Bloomfield via Forbes
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|73
|North Highland via Forbes
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|73
|Highland
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|75
|Wilkinsburg via East Liberty
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|76
|Wilkinsburg via Hamilton Avenue
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|Signed simply as Hamilton. From Fifth and Market, along Fifth to Hamilton, to Brushton, to Tioga, to Wilkinsburg.
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|77
|Wilkinsburg via Fifth Avenue
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|77/54
|North Side to Carrick via Bloomfield
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|Fondly known as the "Flying Fraction". Cut back to loop on Seneca and Gist Streets July 8, 1963 due to repaving of Brady Street Bridge
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|78
|Wilkinsburg - Verona
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|Originally the Wilkinsburg Verona Street Railway
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|78
|South Highland Avenue via Fifth
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|78
|Laketon Rd.
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|Double end shuttle from Wilkinsburg to Highland Ave. This was a cutback of the line to Verona, Oakmont and Hulton
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|79
|Forbes, Shady and Penn
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|80
|East Pittsburgh via Braddock and Homestead
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|81
|Atwood Street
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|Double-ended shuttle route with through downtown single-end cars in rush hours (outer end looped)
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|82
|East Liberty via Centre Avenue
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|82
|Lincoln
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|83
|Centre and Herron
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|Short turn of the 82
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|84
|Centre and Larimer (night car)
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|85
|Wylie and Bedford
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|86
|East Liberty Express
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|87
|Ardmore
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|Second longest line on system (by 0.1 mile), at 13.7 miles. Line between Wilmerding and Wilkinsburg abandoned September 4, 1966
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|88
|Frankstown Avenue
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|90
|Penn Avenue and West Wilkinsburg
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|92
|Shady Loop via Penn
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|94
|Sharpsburg and Aspinwall
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|94
|Aspinwall
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|Closed during replacement of 62nd St. Sharpsburg Bridge with Senator Robert D. Fleming Bridge
, which did not have streetcar tracks.
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|95
|Butler Street
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|Short turn of the 94; turned at 62nd & Butler
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|96
|Penn and Negley via Butler
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|96
|E. Liberty-62nd St.
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|98
|Larimer via Penn
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|98
|Glassport
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|Closed following severe storm damage on August 3, 1963
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|99
|Evans Ave Glassport
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|Double end shuttle from Glassport via Ohio Ave, 9th, Monongahela Ave, 5th Ave to Evans Ave. Became 98 Glassport
|}
A notable, unnumbered, tripper (unscheduled extra) service was signed Stadium
-Forbes Field
, for Pitt Panthers
and Pittsburgh Steelers
football games and Pirates
baseball games. Pitt Stadium and Forbes Field were convenient to the lines on Fifth Avenue
and Forbes Avenue
, both two-way streets during the trolley era. This service, which probably last ran in fall 1966, was no longer possible after the East End lines closed in January 1967.
The Interurban lines did not use route numbers. Outbound interurban cars were signed for their outbound destination, namely Charleroi, Roscoe or Washington; some PCC rollsigns instead suffixed Shannon- to the destination, e.g. Shannon-Washington. Inbound cars were signed simply Pittsburgh.
. It served routes 50, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 75 and 81. Craft Avenue assumed storage duties for East End facilities that were closed such as Homewood, Herron Hill and Highland Park, as well as Carrick on the South Side; thus it eventually also served routes such as 22, 71, 73, 76, 77/54, 87 and 88. Craft Avenue ceased to be a streetcar facility on January 28, 1967 when all East End lines were converted to bus. The site is now occupied by the Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
.
on routes 30 and 31, it also served routes 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 34. It consisted of a 4-road brick shed housing 20 cars, an 8-road open yard capable of holding about 120 cars, and a brick administration building. Ingram ceased as an active facility after June 21, 1959 when all the West End lines were abandoned after the Point Bridge was closed to traffic, although 30 1000- and 1100-series PCCs made surplus by the conversion were scrapped there. The property was sold to the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Pittsburgh
; the barn proper was converted in 1968 to the Church of the Ascension, while the yard office was converted to classrooms, parish offices and a parish hall
.
and the south portal of the South Hills Tunnel, was the car storage facility for many, and eventually all, South Side lines, and one of the most important such facilities on the entire system. It consisted of a 4-road brick shed with administrative offices, plus a 6-road outdoor yard. While containing fewer tracks than yards like Craft Avenue, the length of the tracks allowed storage of many more cars per road, especially outdoors. Tunnel served lines 23, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42 and 43 (later the 42/38), 44, 46 (later 49), 48, and later the 47 and 53 lines to Carrick, and the final North Side lines 6/14 and 21. It also shared storage duties for the two Interurban lines with the barns in Charleroi and in Tylerdale (Washington). As the nucleus of the surviving PAT trolley lines, Tunnel barn survived into the mid-1980s, when it was demolished after being replaced by the current PAT storage and maintenance facility at the end of the South Hills Village branch off the Drake line.
was a large facility with two barns and several outdoor sidings. It was bounded by Third Street to the north, Chartiers Avenue to the south and Rox Street to the east. It closed in 1931, but remained a storage facility for scrap trolley parts. The building was demolished in 1951. A Foodland food market now occupies the southern part of the site, with new housing to the north.
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and the 11th-largest in the United States. When considering that its service area is the 20th largest in the U.S...
. It had 666 PCC
PCC streetcar
The PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...
cars, the third largest fleet in North America. It had 68 street car routes, of which only three (until April 5, 2010 the 42
42 South Hills Village
The Red Line is a line on the Pittsburgh Light Rail system that runs between South Hills Village and Downtown Pittsburgh via the Beechview neighborhood. Companion routes, the Blue Line - South Hills Village and Blue Line - Library, branch off north of Martin Villa and run through Overbrook...
series, the 47
47 South Hills Village
The Blue Line - South Hills Village is a line on the Pittsburgh Light Rail system that runs between South Hills Village and Downtown Pittsburgh via the Overbrook neighborhood. The Blue Line - South Hills Village was created in 1987 to complement on the Red Line, which runs through Beechview before...
series, and 52) are used by the Port Authority as light rail
Pittsburgh Light Rail
The Pittsburgh Light Rail is a light rail system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; it functions as a subway in Downtown Pittsburgh and largely as an at-grade light rail service in the suburbs. The system is owned and operated by the Port Authority of Allegheny County...
routes. With the Port Authority's Transit Development Plan, many route names will be changed to its original, such as the 41D Brookline becoming the 39 Brookline. Many of the streetcar routes have been remembered in the route names of many Port Authority buses (e.g. 71 series).
History
1895 to 1905 was a time of consolidation for the numerous street railways serving Pittsburgh. On July 24, 1895 the Consolidated Traction Company was chartered and the following year acquired the Central Traction Company, Citizens Traction Company, Duquesne Traction Company and Pittsburgh Traction Company and converted them to electric operation. On 27 July, 1896 the United Traction Company was chartered and absorbed the Second Avenue Traction Company, which had been running electric cars since 1890.The Southern Traction Company acquired the lease of the West End Traction Company on October 1, 1900. Pittsburgh Railways was formed on January 1, 1902, when the Southern Traction Company acquired operating rights over the Consolidated Traction Company and United Traction Company. The new company operated 1,100 trolleys on 400 miles (643.7 km) of track, with 178.7 million passengers and revenues of $6.7 million on the year.
Unfortunately the lease and operate business model proved hard to support and the company declared bankruptcy twice, first in 1918 lasting for 6 years and then again in 1938, this time lasting until January 1, 1951.
On 26 July 1936 Pittsburgh Railways took delivery of PCC streetcar
PCC streetcar
The PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...
No. 100 from the St. Louis Car Company
St. Louis Car Company
The St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
. It was placed in revenue service in August 1936, the first revenue earning PCC in the world.
Large scale abandonments of lines began in the late 1950's, usually associated with highway or bridge work.
Duquesne-McKeesport
Highway improvements in the Duquesne-McKeesport area resulted in the replacement of trolley services with buses on September 21, 1958.West End lines
The replacement of the Point Bridge with the Fort Pitt BridgeFort Pitt Bridge
The Fort Pitt Bridge is a steel, double decker bowstring arch bridge that spans the Monongahela River near its confluence with the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It carries Interstate 376 between the Fort Pitt Tunnel and Downtown Pittsburgh.-History:The Fort Pitt Bridge opened on...
precipitated the abandonment of many routes to the West End, all on June 21, 1959. Pittsburgh Railways Company was engaged in ongoing litigation over the failure of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission to provide streetcar tracks on the new bridge. In the end the company was allowed to abandon 27 miles (43.5 km) of street track in situ and was awarded $300,000 as compensation. However, this was the beginning of the end for trolleys in Pittsburgh and would be followed by the abandonment of 90% of the network over the next 10 years.
Interurban
Pittsburgh Railways Interurban Division ran an interurbanInterurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
trolley system linking Pittsburgh with towns in Washington County
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
such as Washington
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, Charleroi
Charleroi, Pennsylvania
Charleroi is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, along the Monongahela River, 25 miles south of Pittsburgh. Charleroi was settled in 1890 and incorporated in 1891. The population in 1900 stood at 5,930; in 1910, 9,615; in 1920, 11,516, and in 1940, 10,784...
and Roscoe
Roscoe, Pennsylvania
Roscoe is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 848 at the 2000 census.-History:The Allenport & Roscoe Street Railway was formed in 1903 and was purchased by Pittsburgh Railways to form part of their interurban line to Pittsburgh in 1906. The extension to...
.
Charleroi
The origins of the Charleroi interurban line began in 1895 in Monongahela CityMonongahela, Pennsylvania
Monongahela, colloquially called "Mon City," is a Third Class City in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, located approximately south of the city proper. The population was 4,761 at the 2000 census...
, with the construction of a small street railway by the Monongahela City Street Railway Company. In 1900 the line was extended north to Riverview
New Eagle, Pennsylvania
New Eagle is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 2,262 at the 2000 census.-History:...
and in 1901 extended south to Black Diamond Mine. Here it turned inland, south along Black Dam Hollow (the old private right of way is now known as Trolley Lane). It met the northern end of the newly constructed (1899) Charleroi & West Side Street Railway at the now disused Lock number 4 in North Charleroi.
The Charleroi interurban line was cut back to the Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
border at Library (Simmons loop) in June 1953 It continued to run until the 1980s as 35 Shannon-Library and became the southern portion of 47L Library via Overbrook when Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) replaced trolleys. The trolley loop was removed in 2004. In 2010 this line became the Blue Line – Library.
Washington
The Washington line was cut back to the county boundary at Drake in August of 1953 and eventually became the 36 Shannon-Drake.This in turn became the southern portion of 42 South Hills Village
42 South Hills Village
The Red Line is a line on the Pittsburgh Light Rail system that runs between South Hills Village and Downtown Pittsburgh via the Beechview neighborhood. Companion routes, the Blue Line - South Hills Village and Blue Line - Library, branch off north of Martin Villa and run through Overbrook...
(excluding the new link from Dorchester
Dorchester (PAT station)
Dorchester is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network, located in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The street level stop was added to the route to serve the nearby Dorchester Apartment complex, for which the stop was named...
to South Hills Village
South Hills Village (PAT station)
South Hills Village is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network. It is the southern terminus of both the 42S and 47S. Port Authority's switching yard and shops are located just west of the station. The station is located in Upper St. Clair and is adjacent to the...
, which was built in 1984). The final portion of the interurban from Dorchester to Drake was renamed 47 Drake
47 Drake
The 47 Drake was a PCC trolley line that was part of the Pittsburgh Light Rail system.-History:The 47D was the last line in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to be used solely for PCC streetcars...
, finally closing in 1999 and bringing to an end PCC Streetcar operation in Pittsburgh.
PCC types
Listed by delivery date:- 1936: Number 100,
- 1937: 1000 – 1099,
- 1938: 1100 – 1199,
- 1940: 1200 – 1299,
- 1942: 1400 – 1499,
- 1945: 1500 – 1564,
- 1945: 1600 – 1699,
- 1948-9: 1700 – 1799.
Several of the 1700 cars were rebuilt by PAT in 1981.
- 4000 (was 1702)
- 4001 (was 1720)
- 4003 (was 1740)
- 4004 (was 1739)
- 4005 (was 1719)
- 4006 (was 1767)
- 4007 (was 1729)
- 4008 (was 1709)
- 4009 (was 1700)
- 4010 (was 1757)
- 4011 (was 1733)
- 4012 (was 4000)
- 4013 (was 1762)
Pre-PCC
- 3487(aka M132): Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways in 1905 by St. Louis Car CompanySt. Louis Car CompanyThe St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
. Converted to a wreck car in 1934. Converted back to passenger configuration in 1956.
- 4145: Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways in 1911 in McKees Rocks by the Pressed Steel Car CompanyPressed Steel Car CompanyOn January 13 1899 the Pressed Steel Car Company was incorporated in New Jersey with an authorized capitalization of $25 million, for the stated purpose of “manufacturing passenger, freight and street railway cars and to make trucks, wheels, and other parts of cars”...
.
- 4140(aka M200): Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways in 1911 in McKees Rocks by the Pressed Steel Car CompanyPressed Steel Car CompanyOn January 13 1899 the Pressed Steel Car Company was incorporated in New Jersey with an authorized capitalization of $25 million, for the stated purpose of “manufacturing passenger, freight and street railway cars and to make trucks, wheels, and other parts of cars”...
, converted to a snow plow in 1940, then to a Tow car in 1955.
- 4398: Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways in 1914 by St. Louis Car CompanySt. Louis Car CompanyThe St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
.
- 3756: Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways in 1925 by Osgood Bradley Car CompanyOsgood Bradley Car CompanyThe Osgood Bradley Car Company manufactured railway passenger cars and streetcars in Worcester, Massachusetts.-History:The company was founded in 1822 to manufacture stagecoaches and sleighs. The company's first railway passenger cars were built for the Boston and Worcester Railroad in 1835. ...
.
PCC
- 1138: Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways Co. in 1936 by St. Louis Car Company.
- 1467: Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways Co. in 1941 by St. Louis Car Company.
- 1644: Preserved at Northern Ohio Railway MuseumNorthern Ohio Railway MuseumNorthern Ohio Railway Museum is a railroad museum located in Chippewa Lake, Ohio. The Museum is a non-profit, educational organization. It was established in 1965, granted 501 status by the Internal Revenue Service in 1966 and incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio in 1976...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways Co. in 1945 by St. Louis Car Company.
- 1799(aka 1613): Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways Co. in 1945 by St. Louis Car Company as 1613. In 1979 it was overhauled and renumbered 1799.
- 1711: Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways Co. in 1948 by St. Louis Car Company.
- 1724: Preserved at the Heinz History CenterHeinz History CenterThe Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is the largest history museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Named after the late U.S. Senator H...
, Pittsburgh.
A number of the later cars were rebuilt by the Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and the 11th-largest in the United States. When considering that its service area is the 20th largest in the U.S...
and passed into preservation.
- 4001: Static display47 DrakeThe 47 Drake was a PCC trolley line that was part of the Pittsburgh Light Rail system.-History:The 47D was the last line in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to be used solely for PCC streetcars...
in front of South Hills Village depot. - 4004: Preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. - 4006: Stored by a private collector behind a warehouse in Columbus, Oh
- 4007: Static exhibit in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania with numbers removed.
- 4008: Acquired by San Francisco MUNI for the F line.
- 4009: Acquired by San Francisco MUNI for the F line.
Work Cars
- M1: Preserved by the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Originally built in 1890 by Pullman Car Company as an 8-wheel car for Pittsburgh, Allegheny & Manchester Street railway. Proving underpowered for Pittsburgh's hills, it was converted to a 4-wheel pay car in the 1890s. When Pittsburgh Railways was formed it was assigned the number M1 and continued service as a pay car.
- M37: Snow sweeper, Preserved by the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built in 1896 by McGuire Manufacturing Company as #9 for the Consolidated Traction Company. Upon the creation of Pittsburgh Railways it was renumbered M37.
- M56(aka BV1): Snow sweeper, Preserved by the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built in 1918 for the Philadelphia Company. It started service on the Beaver Valley traction line as #1. In 1935, due to money troubles, it was transferred to Pittsburgh Railways and renumbered M56.
- M283: Crane car, Preserved by the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways Co. in 1929 by Differential Car Company.
- M551: Side-Dump car, Preserved by the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built for Pittsburgh Railways Co. in 1922 by Differential Car Company.
- M210: Line car, Preserved by the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumPennsylvania Trolley MuseumThe Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to trolleys and includes several restored examples.-History:...
. Built in 1940 by Pittsburgh Railways Co. in their Homewood shops using components salvaged from two other cars.
Routes
Routes operated by Pittsburgh Railways with date and fate.No. | Route | opened | closed / renamed | notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spring Garden Spring Garden (Pittsburgh) Spring Garden is a small neighborhood on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It takes its name from Spring Garden Avenue, which follows the floor of the valley that separates the two adjacent hilltop neighborhoods of Spring Hill and Troy Hill... |
PCC from 1940, closed (low traffic) | ||
2 | Etna Etna, Pennsylvania Etna is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on the Allegheny River, opposite Pittsburgh. It flourished in the past when it was the site of rolling mills, furnaces, steel mills, galvanized-pipe works, and other manufacturers. In 1900, 5,384 people lived in Etna. In 1910, 5,830 lived there,... |
Interchange between PRCo and Pittsburgh and Butler Street Railway Pittsburgh and Butler Street Railway The Pittsburgh and Butler Street Railway, commonly called the Butler Short Line, was a broad gauge interurban streetcar line connecting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States to Butler via Mars.-History:... from 1907 until 1931. PCC from 1938, closed (state took land for highway) |
||
3 | Millvale Millvale, Pennsylvania Millvale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny River, opposite Pittsburgh. In the past, it had iron manufactures, saw works, stone works, lumber mills, breweries, etc. In 1900, the number of people residing here totaled 6,736; in 1910, 7,861; and in 1940, 7,811... |
PCC from 1938, closed (state took land for highway) | ||
4 | Troy Hill Troy Hill Troy Hill is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1 .... |
Loop was in Troy Hill at Lowrie and Roessler Streets. PCC from 1940, closed (street paving / low traffic) | ||
5 | Troy Hill Troy Hill Troy Hill is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1 .... (Lowrie and Gardner) |
closed; number reassigned | ||
5 | Troy Hill Troy Hill Troy Hill is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1 .... via North Avenue |
closed; number reassigned | ||
5 | Spring Hill | PCC from 1946, closed (street paving / low traffic) | ||
6 | Brighton Road | In 1915 timetable. PCC from 1938. Became 6/13. | ||
6/13 | Brighton Road via Emsworth | Cut back to become 6/14 Brighton Avalon when the Avalon bridge (Spruce Run Viaduct) and Ben Avon Bridge (Ravine Street Viaduct), built in 1905, were closed to trolleys due to weight restrictions. | ||
6/14 | Brighton Avalon Avalon, Pennsylvania Avalon is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Ohio River, downstream from Pittsburgh. It is a largely residential borough with a few small stores... |
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7 | Charles Street | |||
8 | Perrysville Avenue | |||
9 | Charles Street Transfer | Double-end shuttle (no loop or wye) between the 7 Charles Street and 21 Fineview services. | ||
10 | West View and Bellevue | Formed a loop with 15 Bellevue. 10 West View was counterclockwise as far as West View. | ||
11 | East Street and Madison Avenue | Short turn of the 10 | ||
12 | Evergreen Road via East Street | Interchange between PRCo and Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway The Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway, commonly called the Harmony Line, was a broad gauge interurban streetcar line connecting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States to Butler and New Castle via Harmony and a split at Evans City... from 1908 until 1931. Double-end shuttle (no loop or wye). |
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13 | Emsworth | became 6/13 | ||
14 | Avalon Avalon, Pennsylvania Avalon is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Ohio River, downstream from Pittsburgh. It is a largely residential borough with a few small stores... |
Short turn of the 13. Became the 6/14 when 6/13 was cut back to Avalon loop. | ||
15 | Bellevue and West View | Formed a loop with 10 West View. 15 Bellevue was clockwise as far as West View. | ||
16 | Shadeland | |||
17 | Reedsdale | |||
18 | Woods Run via Union Line | |||
19 | Western Avenue | |||
20 | Rebecca (later renamed Reedsdale) | PCC from 1942. Closed (loss of Manchester Bridge ramp) | ||
21 | Nunnery Hill | Nunnery Hill was an old name for the Fineview neighborhood | ||
21 | Fineview | Maximum grade of 12.24% was steepest grade on system. Inbound route duplicated 8 Perrysville Avenue. Initially closed without bus replacement due to grades and narrow streets on outbound route. Later duplicated by PAT bus route 11 | ||
22 | Crosstown | From North Side (formerly Allegheny City) business area to 6th/5th in downtown. | ||
23 | Coraopolis - Sewickley | Crossed the Ohio River 3 times, twice to reach and leave Neville Island, then over the entire channel between Coraopolis and Sewickley Sewickley, Pennsylvania Sewickley is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, west northwest of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. It is a residential suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 3,827 at the 2010 census... |
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24 | Schoenville | Isolated from main network on January 26, 1920 with the closing of O'Donovan's Bridge due to structural deficiencies. Operated with a single car (4344) that was maintained on the street at one end of the line until closure. | ||
25 | McKees Rocks – Island Avenue | |||
26 | McKees Rocks – West Park | |||
27 | Carnegie and Heidelberg | |||
28 | Crafton Junction | |||
29 | Crafton and Thornburg | closed, date unknown | ||
30 | Crafton and Ingram | |||
31 | Ingram–Sheraden | The Pittsburgh, Crafton and Mansfield (Carnegie) Railway was chartered to build a streetcar line through Sheraden in 1897. The line closed when the Point Bridge closed as the replacement did not have tracks. | ||
32 | Elliott | Double-ended shuttle. Later known as 32 P&LE Transfer due to line's eastern terminus at P&LE Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad , also known as the "Little Giant", was formed on May 11, 1875. Company headquarters were located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The line connected Pittsburgh in the east with Youngstown, Ohio at nearby Haselton, Ohio in the west and Connellsville, ... Station. Track and wire remained intact until 1956 for nonrevenue use. |
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33 | Mount Washington via Point | Double-ended shuttle | ||
34 | Elliott | Became 31/34 Elliott-Ingram in 1950 | ||
35 | Elliott (Lorenz Avenue only) | |||
35 | Castle Shannon Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania Castle Shannon is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 8,316 at the 2010 census.-Geography:... - Library Loop Library, Pennsylvania Library, Pennsylvania is an unincorporated community in South Park Township, Pennsylvania along Brownsville Road. Originally known as Loafer's Hollow, it was re-named Library by its residents in honor of the first library in the area, founded by John Moore in 1833.South of Library, the original... |
Via Overbrook Overbrook (Pittsburgh) Overbrook is a neighborhood on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's South Hills area. It has a zip codes of 15227, 15234 and 15210 and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 4 . Originally called Fairhaven, the name was changed to Overbrook when breaking away from... . Truncation of Charleroi Charleroi, Pennsylvania Charleroi is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, along the Monongahela River, 25 miles south of Pittsburgh. Charleroi was settled in 1890 and incorporated in 1891. The population in 1900 stood at 5,930; in 1910, 9,615; in 1920, 11,516, and in 1940, 10,784... interurban line. Direct ancestor of current Blue Line - Library |
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36 | Fair Haven | |||
36 | Castle Shannon - Drake Loop Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Bethel Park is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, approximately 7 miles southwest of Pittsburgh... |
Via Overbrook. Truncation of Washington Washington, Pennsylvania Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state... interurban line. Direct ancestor of current Blue Line to South Hills Village. Drake Loop 47 Drake The 47 Drake was a PCC trolley line that was part of the Pittsburgh Light Rail system.-History:The 47D was the last line in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to be used solely for PCC streetcars... service ended 1999 |
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37 | Fair Haven and Castle Shannon | Best known by later designation 37 Castle Shannon. Ran via Overbrook; nucleus of modern Blue Line | ||
38 | Mount Lebanon and Castle Shannon | Outer end beyond W. Liberty Ave. became part of 42/38 Mt. Lebanon-Beechview | ||
38A | Mount Lebanon Castle Shannon Shuttle | A double end shuttle between Castle Shannon and Clearview loop. Replaced by a rush hour extension of 38 Mount Lebanon. | ||
39 | Brookline Brookline (Pittsburgh) -Early settlement:Brookline was a part of the larger West Liberty Borough before its absorption intoPittsburgh in 1908. Early in its history, the area was mostly inhabited by miners and farmers... |
South along West Liberty Avenue and then turned east along Brookline Blvd. Originally extended as far as Saw Mill Run, cut back in 1906. | ||
40 | Mount Washington via Tunnel | |||
41 | Mount Washington Short Line | |||
42 | Dormont | became 42/38 Mt. Lebanon-Beechview when 38 trackage on West Liberty Avenue abandoned. | ||
42/38 | Mt. Lebanon-Beechview | Formed from 42 Dormont and southern end of 38 Mount Lebanon. Direct ancestor of Red Line | ||
43 | Neeld Avenue | Short turn of the 42 and 42/38 | ||
44 | Knoxville via Tunnel | Signed as 44 Knoxville-Pa. Sta. for its northern terminus. Combined with route 48 in late 1960s | ||
44/48 | Knoxville-Arlington | |||
45 | ||||
46 | Brownsville Road | Became 49 Beltzhoover | ||
47 | McKinley and Southern | |||
47 | Carrick via Tunnel | Renumbered 53 | ||
48 | Arlington | Combined with 44 Knoxville circa 1968. Portions became part of 49 Arlington-Warrington in 1971 | ||
49 | Beltzhoover via Brownsville | portions became part of 49 Arlington-Warrington | ||
49 | Arlington-Warrington | renamed 52 Allentown | ||
50 | Carson via Smithfield | |||
51 | Bon Air | |||
52 | Carson via Tenth Street Bridge | |||
52 | Allentown | 1984 | March 27, 2011 | Part of PAT Brown Line Brown Line (Pittsburgh) The Brown Line was a service on the Pittsburgh Light Rail system that runs from South Hills Junction over Mount Washington and across the Monongahela River to downtown Pittsburgh, terminating at Gateway Center... . Trackage remains active with no scheduled service. |
53 | Carrick via South 18th Street | Terminus in Brentwood Brentwood, Pennsylvania Brentwood is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 9,643 at the 2010 census.-Geography and climate:Brentwood is located at .... . Rerouted via tunnel March 31, 1968. Last car 1627 |
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55 | East Pittsburgh via Homestead and Braddock | Replaced by bus when Glenwood Bridge Glenwood Bridge The Glenwood Bridge is a cantilever bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which carries Pennsylvania Route 885 over the Monongahela River. It started construction on June 3, 1958 and was completed in 1966 to replace an old decayed unsafe iron bridge built in 1894 which carried Pittsburgh Railways... rebuilt without trolley tracks. |
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55A | Munhall via Homestead | |||
56 | McKeesport via Dravosburg | The McKeesport to Dravosburg line was electrified by the McKeesport and Reynoldton Passenger Railway Company in 1892. The line from Pittsburgh was extended from Hays to Dravosburg in 1895 and a trestle linking the two lines was completed in 1897. | ||
56A | Lincoln Place via 2nd Ave. | |||
57 | Glenwood |
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|First permanent electric line in Pittsburgh, Second Avenue Traction Co. Short turn of the 56.
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|58
|Greenfield
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|59
|Homeville - Homestead
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|Double-ended shuttle
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|60
|East Liberty-Homestead
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|Some cars extended to serve Kennywood Park, signed East Liberty-Kennywood
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|62
|Trafford
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|63
|Trafford City Express
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|63
|Corey Avenue, Braddock
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|64
|East Pittsburgh via Wilkinsburg
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|65
|Hawkins and North Braddock
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|65
|Munhall-Lincoln Place
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|66
|East and West Wilkinsburg via Forbes
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|67
|Swissvale, Rankin and Braddock
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|Replaced by bus service 61B Braddock - Swissvale
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|68
|McKeesport via Homestead and Duquesne
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|Served Kennywood Park. Longest line on the system (13.8 miles)
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|69
|Larimer via Ellsworth
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|69
|Squirrel Hill
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|70
|North Highland
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|71
|Centre and Negley
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|Later called Negley-Highland Park
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|72
|Bloomfield via Forbes
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|73
|North Highland via Forbes
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|73
|Highland
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|75
|Wilkinsburg via East Liberty
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|76
|Wilkinsburg via Hamilton Avenue
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|Signed simply as Hamilton. From Fifth and Market, along Fifth to Hamilton, to Brushton, to Tioga, to Wilkinsburg.
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|77
|Wilkinsburg via Fifth Avenue
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|77/54
|North Side to Carrick via Bloomfield
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|Fondly known as the "Flying Fraction". Cut back to loop on Seneca and Gist Streets July 8, 1963 due to repaving of Brady Street Bridge
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|78
|Wilkinsburg - Verona
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|Originally the Wilkinsburg Verona Street Railway
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|78
|South Highland Avenue via Fifth
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|78
|Laketon Rd.
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|Double end shuttle from Wilkinsburg to Highland Ave. This was a cutback of the line to Verona, Oakmont and Hulton
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|79
|Forbes, Shady and Penn
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|80
|East Pittsburgh via Braddock and Homestead
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|81
|Atwood Street
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|Double-ended shuttle route with through downtown single-end cars in rush hours (outer end looped)
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|82
|East Liberty via Centre Avenue
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|82
|Lincoln
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|83
|Centre and Herron
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|Short turn of the 82
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|84
|Centre and Larimer (night car)
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|85
|Wylie and Bedford
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|86
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|87
|Ardmore
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|Second longest line on system (by 0.1 mile), at 13.7 miles. Line between Wilmerding and Wilkinsburg abandoned September 4, 1966
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|88
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|90
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|92
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|94
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|94
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|Closed during replacement of 62nd St. Sharpsburg Bridge with Senator Robert D. Fleming Bridge
Senator Robert D. Fleming Bridge
The Senator Robert D. Fleming Bridge, commonly known as the 62nd Street Bridge, is a truss bridge that carries PA Route 8 across the Allegheny River between the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Stanton Heights and the suburb of Sharpsburg.-History:...
, which did not have streetcar tracks.
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|95
|Butler Street
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|Short turn of the 94; turned at 62nd & Butler
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|96
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|96
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|98
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|98
|Glassport
Glassport, Pennsylvania
Glassport is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately south of Pittsburgh and the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers where they form the Ohio River...
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|Closed following severe storm damage on August 3, 1963
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|99
|Evans Ave Glassport
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|Double end shuttle from Glassport via Ohio Ave, 9th, Monongahela Ave, 5th Ave to Evans Ave. Became 98 Glassport
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A notable, unnumbered, tripper (unscheduled extra) service was signed Stadium
Pitt Stadium
Pitt Stadium was a stadium located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1925 to 1999. It served primarily as the home of the University of Pittsburgh's football team, the Pittsburgh Panthers...
-Forbes Field
Forbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
, for Pitt Panthers
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
and Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
football games and Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
baseball games. Pitt Stadium and Forbes Field were convenient to the lines on Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue (Pittsburgh)
Fifth Avenue is one of the longest streets in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It begins downtown and moves eastward for about seven or eight miles...
and Forbes Avenue
Forbes Avenue
Forbes Avenue is one of the longest streets in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It has a length of about ten miles and is named for General John Forbes , whose expedition recaptured Fort Duquesne and who renamed the place Pittsburgh in 1758.The westernmost terminus of Forbes Avenue lies at...
, both two-way streets during the trolley era. This service, which probably last ran in fall 1966, was no longer possible after the East End lines closed in January 1967.
The Interurban lines did not use route numbers. Outbound interurban cars were signed for their outbound destination, namely Charleroi, Roscoe or Washington; some PCC rollsigns instead suffixed Shannon- to the destination, e.g. Shannon-Washington. Inbound cars were signed simply Pittsburgh.
Car barns
Pittsburgh Railways inherited many different car barns from the companies that formed it, many of which were closed during the final years prior to take over by the Port Authority. At the time of the PA takeover on February 28, 1964, only Craft Avenue, Keating and Tunnel (South Hills) remained as streetcar facilities, together with Homewood Shops, and a former carbarn in Rankin used only for dead storage of retired cars.Craft Avenue
A large (~14 road) facility with several administration buildings at Craft Avenue and Forbes Avenue in OaklandOakland (Pittsburgh)
Oakland is the academic, cultural, and healthcare center of Pittsburgh and is Pennsylvania's third largest "Downtown". Only Center City Philadelphia and Downtown Pittsburgh can claim more economic and social activity than Oakland...
. It served routes 50, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 75 and 81. Craft Avenue assumed storage duties for East End facilities that were closed such as Homewood, Herron Hill and Highland Park, as well as Carrick on the South Side; thus it eventually also served routes such as 22, 71, 73, 76, 77/54, 87 and 88. Craft Avenue ceased to be a streetcar facility on January 28, 1967 when all East End lines were converted to bus. The site is now occupied by the Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $9 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 54,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 4,200 licensed beds, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.5 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and...
.
Glenwood
Glenwood Car Barn served the 55, 56, 57, 58, 65 and 98 routes and housed approximately 54 cars.Homewood
Homewood car barn was begun in 1900 and grew to be one of the two largest installations of Pittsburgh Railways, with 110 cars housed there. Also the site of PRC's heavy repair shops, it covered four blocks from 7100 to 7400 on the south side of Frankstown Avenue, bordered by North Lang Avenue to the west, Felicia Way to the south and Braddock to the east. In 1955 Barn No. 2 was destroyed by fire along with all of the equipment within it, which included fourteen PCC trolleys. Homewood car barn closed in 1960, though the shops remained in use until January 1967 when all East End lines were closed. The large site is now used for a mixture of residential and commercial premises, with the last remaining railway buildings converted first to a skating rink and then in 1997 to a bowling alley and entertainment venue called the Homewood Coliseum. Since 2000 the complex has also housed The Trolley Station Oral History Center.Ingram
Ingram carbarn was the main storage facility in the West End. Located on Berry Street in Ingram BoroughIngram, Pennsylvania
Ingram is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,330 at the 2010 census.It is located in the Montour School District, which educates the children of Kennedy Township, Robinson Township, Pennsbury Village, Thornburg, and the borough of...
on routes 30 and 31, it also served routes 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 34. It consisted of a 4-road brick shed housing 20 cars, an 8-road open yard capable of holding about 120 cars, and a brick administration building. Ingram ceased as an active facility after June 21, 1959 when all the West End lines were abandoned after the Point Bridge was closed to traffic, although 30 1000- and 1100-series PCCs made surplus by the conversion were scrapped there. The property was sold to the Roman Catholic
Roman Catholicism in the United States
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope. With more than 68.5 registered million members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population...
Diocese of Pittsburgh
Diocese of Pittsburgh
Diocese of Pittsburgh may refer to:* Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh * Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh...
; the barn proper was converted in 1968 to the Church of the Ascension, while the yard office was converted to classrooms, parish offices and a parish hall
Church hall
A church hall is a room or building associated with a church, general for community and charitable use . It is normally located near the church, typically in smaller and village communities. Activities in the hall are not necessarily religious, but are typically an important part of local community...
.
Keating
Keating car house was built in 1921. It served routes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 21. The remaining trolley routes from Manchester car house (6, 13, 14, 18 and 19) were moved to Keating in 1959. The final North Side trolleys (6/14 and 21) were transferred to South Hills Car House in 1965 and the facility became the bus-only Ross Garage.Millvale
Millvale car barn was built on the site of the Graff, Bennett Mill which burnt down in 1900. It catered for services 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.Plummer Street
The car barn at 48th and Plummer Street in Lawrenceville served the 94 Aspinwall, 95 Butler Street, and 96 East Liberty via Morningside services. It replaced the Butler Street Cable and Horse car barn at 47th and Butler. It was closed in the summer of 1954, with services 94 Aspinwall and 95 Butler Street routes being assigned to Manchester Car House until June 1959. They then transferred to Keating Car House until replaced by bus routes on November 13, 1960. Service 96 East Liberty was transferred first to Bunker Hill car barn then Homewood Car House until June, 1960. It was then transferred to Craft Avenue car house, also being replaced by buses on November 13, 1960 when the 62nd St. Sharpsburg Bridge was closed.Tunnel
The Tunnel (also referred to as South Hills) car barn, located along Curtis and Jasper Streets next to South Hills JunctionSouth Hills Junction (PAT station)
South Hills Junction is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network. This station served as the original "merge point" of the inbound Beechview and Overbrook branches of the light rail system, just before the run under Mount Washington through the Mount Washington...
and the south portal of the South Hills Tunnel, was the car storage facility for many, and eventually all, South Side lines, and one of the most important such facilities on the entire system. It consisted of a 4-road brick shed with administrative offices, plus a 6-road outdoor yard. While containing fewer tracks than yards like Craft Avenue, the length of the tracks allowed storage of many more cars per road, especially outdoors. Tunnel served lines 23, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42 and 43 (later the 42/38), 44, 46 (later 49), 48, and later the 47 and 53 lines to Carrick, and the final North Side lines 6/14 and 21. It also shared storage duties for the two Interurban lines with the barns in Charleroi and in Tylerdale (Washington). As the nucleus of the surviving PAT trolley lines, Tunnel barn survived into the mid-1980s, when it was demolished after being replaced by the current PAT storage and maintenance facility at the end of the South Hills Village branch off the Drake line.
West Park
The West Park car barn in McKees RocksMcKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
McKees Rocks, also known as "The Rocks", is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the south bank of the Ohio River. The borough population was 6,104 at the 2010 census.In the past, it was known for its extensive iron and steel interests...
was a large facility with two barns and several outdoor sidings. It was bounded by Third Street to the north, Chartiers Avenue to the south and Rox Street to the east. It closed in 1931, but remained a storage facility for scrap trolley parts. The building was demolished in 1951. A Foodland food market now occupies the southern part of the site, with new housing to the north.
External links
- Pittsburgh Railways Company
- Charleroi Interurban
- Finding aid to the Pittsburgh Railways Company Records at the Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
- Photographs from the Pittsburgh Railways Company Collection