Chasing
Trains
February
2015
For many of
us the new
year brings
memories of
past years
and holiday
seasons.
This year my
hobby
interest
memories
were aided
by a
magazine
article , in
this case
from Western
Pa. History,
Winter
2014-2015
issue. This
magazine is
the
publication
of the Heinz
History
Center.
The article
, by Paul
Roth and Pat
Finkel is
titled "When
Commuters
Took The
Train"
Turn the
clock back
to the years
before,
during, and
after World
War II when
the major
railroads in
Pittsburgh
operated
commuter
service on
lines
running
parallel to
our three
rivers. In
1924 there
were 400
local and
through
passenger
trains into
and out of
Pittsburgh.
By 1964 this
had dropped
to about
100. Today
there are
4.Amtrak
trains
operating to
or from our
city.
In my case
the railroad
was the
Pennsy
riding from
Edgewood or
Wilkinsburg
on local
trains and
to
Johnstown,
Paoli and
Philadelphia
from East
Liberty on
long
distance
trains.
Some
recollections:
Riding the
local with
my Mother
and
Grandfather
Thanksgiving
weekend in
1940 to see
Santa and
wondering
why the
station and
Liberty Ave.
were encased
in a cloud
of smoke.
riding the
war
emergency
coaches on
the locals.
These were
50' boxcars
fitted with
wood seats ,
portholes,
and oil
lamps.
_ Enroute
from East
Liberty to
Johnstown
standing all
the way in
the isle.
-.Military
Police
riding the
trains
checking
orders and
looking for
AWOLS
-Making two
stops at
various
stations
because the
train was
longer than
the
platform.
More on this
next time.