From the Archive: Trolleys

By Bryant Schmude

This article was originally published in the February 2012 issue of The Northside Chronicle.

Early in January 2012, the North Shore Connector T traveled through the new tunnels below the bed of the Allegheny River. It passed through the unfinished North Side Subway Station near PNC Park before emerging onto the elevated trackway which parallels Heinz Field leading to the new Allegheny T Station.

This discreet test run of the controversial North Shore Connector marked a rather overlooked footnote in Northside history. It marked the first time in 46 years since a powered electric trolley car traveled on tracks on Pittsburgh’s Northside.

Who would have believed back in April 1966, when the last of the Northside’s great T system was shut down, that a newage system would be reborn almost 50 years later? Countless Northsiders grew up here with no concept of the vast T system that once existed.

Before the mid-1960s, electric T lines were operating throughout much of the Northside, North Hills and far beyond. Trolleys ran on tracks once found on the 6th, 7th, 9th and 16th street bridges. These T links reached up into Troy Hill, Mount Troy, Spring Hill, Perry Hilltop and Brighton Heights. Other T lines carried the trolleys to Spring Garden, the Charles Street Valley, Woods Run and out to West View, Etna and far beyond. It was a system of

Photo courtesy of Edward Miller

A 1942 Pittsburgh streamliner-type T car #1676 climbs Itin Street near Goehring Street on the route #5-SPRING HILL light rail line with ease.

fast, energy-efficient and non-polluting rapid transit.

One of the country’s earliest electric T lines was opened in Allegheny City in 1888. You could say it was the original North Shore Connector.

It connected lower Federal Street with

the Perry Hilltop. The success of this speedy line led to many others during the 1890s. Let me add that this new North Shore Connector’s track gauge—that is the distance between the rails on which the wheels sit on the track—is exactly the same 5-foot 2 ½ inches as the original North Side trolleys of decades ago.

The steepest regular T line in all of The United States was also found right here for many decades. The track that carried T Route 21-Fineview from Federal Street up the 12.9 percent grade of Henderson Street was steeper than any other US trolley grade without cables or cog-tracks.

Over a century ago, the area where today’s Heinz Field and River’s Casino now sit, was a segment of Allegheny City known as Old Rebecca. There was actually a T route called the Route 20-Rebecca until 1951. It ran over the Manchester Bridge, the pier of which now houses the Fred Roger’s statue, and ran through Rebecca to the Manchester T Yards.

This new T line has the best potential for future extensions further into the Northside, the North Hills and to the West Hills and airport corridor. Likewise, a dedicated source of funding for transit operations is vital for this region’s future well-being.

Let me further add that the original web of T lines were lost not because they were out dated or old fashioned as some people

See Trolleys, Page 18

Tom Friday’s Market

since 1955

3639 California Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 | tel: 412-766-4500 Monday - Saturday 8:00AM - 5:00PM | Closed Sunday Last butcher shoppe in Pittsburgh city limits to carry fresh hanging sides of beef. Call us with your order Wholesale, Retail, & Restaurants Welcome! Daily home delivery $2.50 for $25 Min Purchase • Delivery Areas Vary • Includes Freezer Meat Specials

Valentine's Day Special

Surf & Turf Combo for only $24.99

Includes one Large Lobster & 8 oz. Boneless New York Strip Steak

#1 FREEZER SPECIAL $189.00

#2 FREEZER SPECIAL $149.00

#3 FREEZER SPECIAL $129.00

10 lb Ground Beef, 3 lb Weiners, 5 lb Chicken Legs, 2 Slices of Ham (center cut), 2 lb Sirloin Steak, 1 Slab Spare Ribs or Meatloaf, 3 lb Center Cut Chuck Roast, 2 lb Round Steak, 3 lb Box of Beef Patties, 1 Whole Cut up Chicken, 1 lb Boiled Ham, 2 lb Center Cut Pork Chops,

5 lb Ground Beef, 2 lb Wieners, 2 lb Pork Chops, 1 lb Ham Salad, 3 lb Cut Up Fryer, 2 lb Box Sliced Bacon,

3 lb Ground Beef, 1 lb Wieners, 3 lb Chicken Legs, 1 lb Ham Salad, 2 lb Sirloin Steak, 2 lb Box Sliced Bacon, 1 lb Tiny Link Sausage, 1 lb American Cheese, 1 lb Kielbasa, 1 lb Boiled Ham, 4 lb Chicken Legs, 2 lb Round Steak,

1 lb Tiny Link Sausage, 1 lb American Cheese, 3 lb Cut Up Fryer, 1 lb Pressed Ham, 2 lb Pork Steak, 2 lb Chuck Steak, 3 lb Country Style Spare Ribs, 3 lb Chuck Steaks, 2 lb Box Sliced Bacon. (3 substitutions allowed)

3 lb Country Style Spare Ribs, 2 lb Sirloin Steak, 3 lb Box of Beef Patties + 1 FREE 2 liter of pop (3 substitutions allowed.)

1 lb Kielbasa, 3 lb country Style Ribs, + 1 dozen eggs FREE (3 substitutions allowed.)

1501 Preble Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233 tel: 412-447-1517 thecityfreshpasta.com Cafe Hours: Monday thru Friday 7:00a-3:00p [winter hours may vary] Stop down for our full espresso bar, fresh baked pastries, soups, sandwiches, daily hand-made pasta dishes, and scrumptious breakfast options during the week. Stop in for your mornings! Buy any coffee drink and receive a free pastry* (cookie, muffin or scone available) *by mentioning this Northside Chronicle ad spot now through 2/28/20222 Looking for dinner? Pick up ready-made pasta and handmade sauces with our retail pasta + ravioli to-go or order by phone on sale now. Call to make your order!

Looking for an opportunity to serve your community?

The Northside Chronicle is now taking fall internship applications for college students interested in journalism and photojournalism. High school seniors are also encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should email editor@thenorthsidechronicle.com or mail a resume and cover letter with three writing or photo samples to:

100 YEARS OF AMERICAN GLASS & POTTERY 1880 - 1980 39th Annual Show & Sale

QUALITY INN (the former CLARION HOTEL)

300 Tarentum Bridge Road New Kensington PA 15068 30 Minutes North of Pittsburgh PA Route 28 Exit #14 Saturday Saturday Sunday March 5, 2016 March 5, 2016 March 6, 2016 10AM to Noon Noon to 5PM 10AM to 3PM $7.00 $5.00 $5.00 Age 30 and Under FREE with Valid I.D. Free Glass ID: Sunday 12:00-2:00 (Limit: 2 Items) Special Exhibit: Stretch Glass Society More Information: email: leasure@earthlink.net or 412-217-2083

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.pghdepressionglass.org

EARLY AMERICAN PATTERN GLASS

Brighton Heights Lutheran Church’s 25th Annual Mardi Gras Celebration

WHEN: Sunday, February 27th, 2022 @ 12:00PM - 4:00PM WHERE: Brighton Heights Lutheran Church 3830 California Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15212 PHONE: 412-761-8545 WHAT FOR: Great Fellowship, Great Food, and Great Music by The Charlie Barath Blues Band HOW MUCH: A free-will offering*, a non-perishable food item**, and gently worn shoes of any kind for anybody (children, women, men)*** .

Everybody’s Welcome!

Weekly Soup/Service on Wednesdays during Lent: Beginning on Ash Wednesday (March 2nd) through April 6th - Dinner @ 6:00PM and Service @ 7:00PM

*All money collected will go to NALC (North American Lutheran Church) Disaster Response Fund. **All food items donated will go to the Northside Common Ministry’s food bank. ***Shoes will go to FUNDS2ORGS www.brightonheightslutheranchurch.org

Elks Lodge Keystone Grant Challenge

In 2021, the Allegheny Elks Lodge #339 and our partnering organization, the Allegheny Historic Preservation Society (AHPS), were awarded a Keystone Historic Preservation Grant to prepare a building study to address the structural and mechanical needs of our 95-year-old building. The $25,000 grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match. Please help us reach our goal by making a tax-deductible contribution made payable to:

Allegheny Historic Preservation Society 971 Beech Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233.

Please note on the check or correspondence that your donation is for the Elks Building Fund. Or, to contribute electronically through PayPal, visit https://tinyurl.com/ahps339 or scan the QR code below.