The P&WV Hi-Line

[PWVJer]

...can't re-call who asked, and wanted a bit more info
on the direct P&WV Company telephone stuff.
Before the more modern Motorola two-way-radios both portable & fixed
began to really take hold:

From March 1957 to March 1960. P&WV General Fire Insurance Schedule
included the following insured value. (Not counting phones in any of the 14 Stations.)

System Wide, 128 Frame Telephone Booths @ $50.00 each.

System wide AT&T/Bell Telephone design, 128 Telephone Booth Contents @ $30.00 each.

whew!!! I can't believe we have info on this kind of stuff!

[jayrod]

Now that-there is what I call an obscure but interesting tidbit o' trivia.
_________________
Eric Schlentner
Aka, jayrod

[Rich_S]

Here is a question to go along with this info. If the dispatcher wanted to call Avella, did he have to dial a 7 digit number, 4 digit number or did they have a party line system?
_________________
Regards,
Rich S.

[PWVJer]

Rich,
I think it was some sort of a party-Line system
for the booths/pole box's.
I believe several of these are in the hands
some P&WV collectors. Maybe one will chime-in.

It may have been the "Dispatcher" who
operated the the phone switch board at Rook?
Perhaps, at real busy times a "Call-Boy or a Clerk" filled in?
I do recall those more modern clamped-on, black candle-sticks (Rotary Dial)
desk-jobs, in the Rook Yard-Masters/CTC building.
Always lots of activity & people "talk'n on the horn".

Had to be in 57'-59'?? would sometimes ride-over with the
O'le-man to pick-up his pay-check & visit the Yard-Office,
then down to the Main Hotel to "stop & play-a-number".

[camp car bill]

Rich

In reply to PWV phone system.The phones were a party line system,each location had a crank phone and a knife switch. One side of switch was for the dispatcher and the other side for location you wanted to call.Each location had its own ring,the bridge camp ring was two long rings and two shorts.
The PWV phones were not connected to the Bell System,if a family member wanted to call the Bridge Camp they would call the main office or dispatcher at night hours and they would call Bridge Camp by PWV phones.

CCB
_________________
wmmjr

[PWVJer]

Hey Bill, thanks for the reply.
Got three(3) full & complete wreck/derailments reports
ready to scan & post @ JR's.

One, we think you're gonna' really like!
Put the old memory cap on! for Oct 29th. 1961.

"Train 92, (AJ-12) Sygan Bridge MP 62.02.
...the leaking tank car, and the Refrigerator Car that derailed,
striking and going over the side of the bridge!"

what a mess...
_________________________________________________________
Sudan Pa. 5:15 p.m. Oct. 5, 1963 WM train #92 (AJ-12)
...and what a really big mess!
__________________________________________________________
4:45 a.m. crossover @ West Belt Jct....you might not recall this one.
Nice stuff for the folks interested in the West End Branch & P&LE/P&WV
detour moves. March 11th. 1962. C.J. Ziegler was the 3rd trick yardmaster for this one.

Each original report(s) about 8-10 pages. In our easy to scroll & view
PDF format.

[Rich_S]

Thanks guys for the info. How things have changed in railroading. We have cell phones and laptop computers in our break down trucks. Makes you wonder what railroading will be like in another 50 some years?

PWVJer, are there any photo's with those wreck/derailment reports? Sygan is just down the street so to speak from where my grandparents lived.
_________________
Regards,
Rich S.

[PWVJer]

Rich,
not sure, got to look thru the
D. Elder pile over @ JR's. We have a bunch, but
no info, or any
paper work to explain the image(s).

The Sygan derailment report will include
some stuff on the
South Fayette Vol, Fire Co.(Cuddy Station?).
and a pic from Bill P.

[Rich_S]

Cuddy is part of South Fayette Volunteer fire department. As a kid I use to walk to the local store in Cuddy, from my grandparents house on National Hill. I'm a little foggy on location, but I think the old fire department location was in the building across the street from Morgan Hill road. I think the local store I use to walk to was either where the post office is now or across the street from the post office that was near the old fire department. Sometime during my youth the fire department moved down the road to a new building. As common with most mine towns, the current building location is the former location of the Maude mine slate pile. The Maude mine was served by the B&M branch of the PRR. Not sure how many loads from the Maude mine ended up on the P&WV via the interchange yard that use to exist at Sygan?
_________________
Regards,
Rich S.

[PWVJer]

Rich,
A while back, GPS sent/included a bunch of 8X10 pics(County Archive Collection), along with
additional P&WV Archive materials. 12-total of these images are
Millers Run/PRR row (some back-round P&WV). Nice McClane Mining-Maude Mine
and the Cuddy town area. Pic Dates:1-6-1928, 8-26-38', 8-6-40' and
and circa: 1942?. All B/W, very sharp & clear.

[Rich_S]

PWVJer, I'd like to see those photo's, even though they are a little before my time. When I was a kid the Maude mine was already closed. The PRR then Penn Central still serviced the B&M once a week or so. There was a lumber / hardware store, at the end of the branch in Gladden that received shipments by rail. I remember seeing those PRR then PC GP7's or GP9's can't remember for sure, on that line on their way to Gladden. The track was in horrible condition and the unit and cars would rock from side to side, to the point where they looked like they were about ready to fall over. All of the ties pumped mud and in rainy weather you didn't stand to close to the tracks or you'd get a mud bath. My Grandparents lived in the Maude mine company town on National Hill. They actually lived in the Superintendents house. What a great view they had of the P&WV ROW. The P&WV and after 1964, the N&W ran through a cut in their front yard and their back yard was still woods. Now the 4 lane PA 50 runs through what was once their back yard, the B&M is a memory along with the Gladden passing siding. At least the new W&LE is still keeping the old P&WV rails polished. Thanks for the walk down memory lane and just like the song, "Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end"
_________________
Regards,
Rich S.

[PWVJer]

OK Rich,
...found a bunch more, your Grandparents House might
in one of the back-round shots, also images of the Cuddy two-track grade Xing,
with two small stores in full view as well.
Most of the Mine & Tipple Structures are included.

If all goes well the Hi-Line may receive a nice collection from a
R.R. closet-collector, we hope will include the P&WV,
PRR branch-line Customers. Pics & info on the Bridgeville's Seldon Plant,
Universal Cyclops Mill. and the GE complex, all late 50's/60's??

Are you still down in Baden? BTW, o'le Jayrod has family that hails from
the Conway/Baden Area.
...get me an E-mail address, & maybe hook-up at some
point.

[Rich_S]

[jayrod]

This is getting a bit off-topic but I just have to know... How do you bowl and not drink beer? That's like a crime against nature. Oooo, the thought gives me the willies...

Two sisters and my parents are all in the Baden/Economy area so I'm through there quite often. When the wife drives the "scenic" route, I leave nose prints on the passenger-side window going past Conway Yard. It sort of looks like the dog was riding in the front seat. It still bugs me that NS tore down the roundhouse.
_________________
Eric Schlentner
Aka, jayrod

[Rich_S]