Pittsburgh's Streetcar Remnants UPDATED

UPDATED TO INCLUDE NEW LOCATION!!!
Aside from visiting the Pa Trolley Museum in Washington, Pa or taking a ride on the 'T' (which is the modernized incarnation of the South Hills lines), our closest connection to the vast streetcar network Pittsburgh once had is visiting four (4) locations where, despite the odds, the tracks survive. Although they've survived for over 50 years, there's no guarantee that they will last another 50 - which is why I compiled this video. If you're interested in visiting these locations, here's a helpful link: goo.gl/maps/mVDYC

[@cerij4242]

Fascinating and great to see young people with the enthusiasm to look for thing like this.

[@johndonlon1611]

The St. Joseph section should be conserved. The girder-rail tracks with the Belgian block pavers add character to the area and preserve that neighborhood's history. I hope they are left alone.

[@jamesdougherty2271]

Pittsburgh should be forced to re-open those abandoned lines and get rid of buses and eliminate traffic. When we live in cities, public transport should be made available for urbane dwellers. I live in Columbus, OH and public transport in Columbus is horrible. Instead of updating inner-city freeways, Columbus should tear them down and put on light rail throughout the city.

[@timothykillmeyer5107]

Great idea, most of the rails long ago removed. Some of the right aways still exist, but are grown over. G.M. and our local politicians destroyed a great trolley system in the early 1960's.

[@rickybee]

Abandoned tracks have always fascinated me. Thank you for sharing. The 77/54 also used the tracks from the old Brady St. Bridge on Forbes to Oakland until 1964, when the route was cut back to Craft Av. Often when I go from town to Oakland I use a 61 bus just to see these tracks!!!

[@antem1983]

It always amazes me how the cities/ mass transit companies just abandon these remnants of old lines. But then again if they didn't, mass transit lovers like us wouldn't be able to tell the stories as vividly without these wonderful relics from the past. thanks for sharing Pittsburgh's

[@CrazyBear65]

That last one looked like the tracks in Dravosburg. They were still there in 1985 when I lived there. They went down a street and then bore off to the left, into the woods, to an old bridge landing. There were old streetcar tracks by Sandy Lake too.. Again, this was in the 80s. Look here: Clairton Dravosburg Rd, West Mifflin, PA 15122 on google maps.

[@RollnRye74]

most of the tracks are still there. just paved over.

[@Mikeywil0003]

When I lived in West View in the early 2000's, there was still some track remnants in that area too. I'd like to see an old transit map to see if other remnants are still there in other areas. Sadly, I no longer live in Pittsburgh. When I lived in West View, I started making an overlay over a modern birds eye picture of West View plaza area that marked where certain rides and what not were located in West View park. I might even still have the file on an old computer.

[@CrazyBear65]

I remember West View Park! Man, I was so sad whenever it closed. My brother and I used to go there in the 70s, mostly to get away from our dad. Last time I was by there would've been 2007, when I was driving tow trucks. I left the Burgh in 2008.

[@rickjason1786]

I was around in the 60s when Pittsburgh had an extensive trolley system

[@bobbyplummer4415]

I lived at Perrysville and federal st ext

[@ArtStoneUS]

Because KZbin will not allow you to post URLs, the best I can do is leave the bread crumbs. If you go to the streaming radio guide blog called 'the truth will set you free', I just posted the complete map of the streetcar system. Probably 25 years ago I created a Google Earth KML file showing all of the routes to the extent they still exist. I will see if I can find that but I'm not optimistic.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

Astonished but delighted to see remnants from the past still surviving, especially in large places like cities.

[@dannyhanny1191]

I appreciate the video and effort to show us these remnants.

[@FrannyWard]

It's a shame that the trolleys have gone by the wayside for the most part. We still have them here in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Two "routes" left. One from the terminal to Media PA that about nine miles, and the other, as shorter one, to Sharon Hill, PA. As a young boy I would ride them, they were called "Brills" and had a distinctive sound from the motors. Another electrified train, (I thought it was a trolley as a kid) was the Hi Speed Norristown line, or "P&W" also still in service. Thanks for this video Jack, you brought back some nice memories of the old days.

[@MyDiesel101]

Excellent video. Thank You for sharing. I live in NJ & I always on the lookout for Street Car Track Remnants, especially in the large cities.

[@lorumipsum1129]

Eugene Kosinski theirs one in jersey city near the amtrack and path station.

[@raymondking3279]

the 21 fineview used to run past my house on henderson st.it ended in 66 or 67.i loved that old thing .....then and now.i wonder if those tracks are still there.

[@bobbyplummer4415]

Perrysville Ave federal st ext

[@albertcarello619]

Raymond King : There's not even a replacement bus service for Fineview.

[@raycaster4398]

As a teenager I used to love "riding the rails" or remnants of the rails on Kennywood Boulevard 837, on the way from Duquesne to Homestead for my summer job at the steel mill. If your car was just right, you could get one tire on each rail and smoothly shimmy back and forth until you got back onto paved asphalt. A lot of fun. Hey, does anybody remember the streetcar lines in McKeesport? Specifically Jenny Lind Avenue outbound??

[@willieboy1970]

There was a turn around in Mt.Lebanon at Alfred St.and a small bar was located there called Andy's Loop.

[@elisasuperiordork6755]

Out in Western Mass, there used to be a series of connecting trolley lines that ran through towns and cities including Greenfield, Turner's Falls, Miller's falls, Cheapside (part of greenfield/montague), Montague, Deerfield, Sunderland, Amherst, Holyoke, and Northampton, almost certainly more. What makes this network so interesting, is not just how much territory it covered, but also, how it evolved. The lines had their peaks, but interestingly, the '30s, which were hard times for all, the lines became more connected, and reduced/free transfers helped make the transit costs easily affordable for regular travels from Cities more to the east, such as Holyoke, to places many, many miles west (Greenfield), exclusively by streetcar. All the lines were killed off by one cause or another, around the late '30s and early '40s. I bring this up, because there is, although not nearly as fine examples as yours, some remnants of this era in a semi-rural trolley network of New England. The main curse that did in the Greenfield line, was a flood which swept out the cheapside bridge over the Deerfield river, in 1936 or '38. The trolley bridge would have survived, if the covered bridge upstream hadn't collapsed, and took it out. But the piers that carried it across, remain. The PVTA bus shops/storage in Greenfield are the former car barn. There is old troley line grading still traceable, in Pelham Mass (on private property alas), and in south Amherst, into Belchertown. This line threaded through what was known as "the notch". This is how the cars reached Holyoke, from Amherst. This one is, as far as I know, public access. I've also been told that, at least some places in holyoke, the trolley tracks remain, albeit sealed beneath pavement. This seems fairly likely, if it was at a point around when Holyoke's better days faded, also presuming that they had buried the tracks by then, as a lot of older abandonments were torn up and scrapped to supply demand during WWII. There is also a short foot bridge in south Amherst, which I have heard, was once for carring the trolley line, but I do not know if this is true. It would certainly explain why the bridge exists though. Too narrow for cars, too heavily built, and broad in width, to be a foot bridge by intent. Also, supposedly, the DPW building in Amherst is a former car barn. Again, I do not know if I believe this or not, in this case, I need to confirm which building it is, and consider if it has suitable dimensions to have been such. There used to be an old waiting shelter, which the University of Massachusetts (Umass) wanted demolished in order to make space for another one of their monolithic construction projects. The Amherst Railway Society was in the middle of making the arrangements to have the structure moved, when someone "accidentally" went ahead and bulldozed the poor building. I've heard stories about the old trolley line in deerfield. There was a low spot on the line, where they had to pass under the New haven railroad's mainline. In wet conditions, this area would flood, and the car could not run through the section under power. So the motorman would always "gun it", and then coast through. It was a severe blow to any motorman's pride, if he didn't make it, and the passengers had to get out and help him push.

[@twofoottaylor1]

Excellent video about the history of streetcars in that area ... well done and extremely interesting to listen to your narrative! ... thanks for posting!

[@ZebraContent]

hey that was really cool! thanks for shareing that. maybe i will try and see if i can find anything still left of those lines and see for myself.

[@sardu55]

Again, enjoyed your video and the information you've provided on these old trolley right of ways still in place. As if frozen in time. Hopefully the city will keep them in place and maybe return them to active duty hauling passengers on revenue runs. Looks like these areas might also haul freight around town, avoiding the clogged roads and Interstates. Do you think these old tracks have a shot at someday returning to active use?. I'd bet on that happening someday, but who knows when or how they will be incarnated. Good stuff, looking forward to more videos from you.

[@joestewart8914]

Butler Street through Lawrenceville to 62nd Street should have been kept as it was served very well by the 94 and 95 lines. This would also have run the trolleys in the Strip district along Penn and Liberty Avenues. The line would have done well with a short extension on Butler Street beyond 62nd that would have taken it to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. I believe the 96 line went there.

[@donaldcontillo9205]

So many cities in the United States had light rail (streetcar) networks that were very efficient and environmentally friendly. Just look at the streetcar network that used to exist in Washington, D.C. as well as the one that was operated in Denver by the RTD. The automobile lobbies often bought and bankrupted these networks so that the car (and gasoline) could be promoted.

[@jimwalsh233]

RTD never ran the system in the Denver Area. It was Denver Tramways.

[@sardu55]

DC still has no trolley/streetcar track. We do have, however, a Metro system that is rapidly failing apart due to lack of funding. An example of the anti-tax austerity methods hitting home. We need a whole new generation of streetcars here but, short of a Holy intervention, is not happening. The old days of the trolley/Interurban trains were certainly helped along in their demise by the auto corporations. And their fellow travelers. Although they didn't kill trolleys they inflicted mortal wounds on the body rail. What really killed them off was the funding issue. Since so many of the lines were built without any central plans (maybe the LA system was an exception), by private business and without a solid funding stream most were bound to fail. Without a central plan to make it work, and funding to carry it thru the hard times (most went bankrupt and even the most well run ventures failed), the trolleys would have hard a time fighting back competition from horse and buggy traffic. What's ironic in all of this was the attitude of local, state and federal governments. None stepped up help the trolley companies enough, if at all, to compete with the soon to be made Interstate system of highways. Again, central planning made the new roads doable. Where trolleys failed they succeeded. Some federal money was used for trolleys: to buy out their right of way and trackage rights to make room for the highways. Looking back it's crazy that the US had no central plan for making a trolley system work. People argue that they are local in nature and a target of fed cash. However, they provide transportation, often across state lines and within regions (such as the strong Interurbans in the Midwest) and would be part of any plan to reduce use of oil and vehicles. But, even today when the feds do get involved it's usually to help fund trolley lines helping to connect tourist attractions or large scale investment projects backed by powerful urban investors. What's better than to have a nice little trolley train run past your really neat new block of expensive apartments, stores and tree lots. Eventually, a solid plan to use trolleys will come about and will be serious. It will incorporate old existing systems like Pittsburgh's and improve it. It'll push the urban envelope out of the center city and into the satellite suburban planned cities where a new type of Interurban train will take over for the vastly expensive Metro subways and buses. Hope I'm around to see it.

[@DK-ub5ph]

I can remember a bar (long gone) located next to the Munhall Loop named "The Turn Around."

[@bobbyplummer4415]

From Northside 1960s remember it well

[@italobambino43]

As we are all Trolly enthusiasts, we must come to the realization that the upkeep and maintenance for street railways is something these Transit Companies do not want to deal with. In Philadelphia only 6 lines still remain, the Rt. 15 which was mothballed in 1992 along with routes 23 and 56 was revised in 2004 and fitted with PCC 2 equipment. As of two months ago the entire fleet of PCC 2 cars were removed for what Septa calls a much needed restoration project as the cars have severe rust and undercarriage damage that needs immediate attention. Will Septa live up to its promise? Does it matter that Septa restored just about all of Rt.15's trackage? Septa has collected its millions from Federal funding and has included these abandoned Trolley routes as viable lines still being used by Trolleys. It amazes me how the Transit Authority continues to pull this off. But my point here, if they could rid themselves of Trolleys all together, they would and with a quickness. Septa has even toyed with the idea of running hybrid buses through the Surface car tunnels as a means of removing the subway surface trolleys.

[@LibertyRailfan]

Thank you for sharing, great video

[@MichaelSalo]

I have an idea of how to better maintain the tracks. Bring back the streetcars that belong to Pittsburgh.

[@TacoBean]

Something to add is the drake loop which was abandoned sometime in the 1990’s

[@andrewschannel4259]

They should've never abandoned this.

[@michaelbollenbacher6116]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@CrazyBear65]

Dravosburg. I don't remember the street. They were still there in 1986. check on google earth.

[@garyburg9504]

But what about where other streetcars were? Such as Castle Shannon, Mt. Lebanon, Dormont and West Liberty Avenue, Brookline, Beechview....

[@shopdog831]

San Diego has some remnants of its street car network around but with the recent construction there harder to find know

[@suzieq1218]

On that last clip, I'd like to see what's on the other side of that brick wall blocking the road.

[@HerminiePA]

You missed the right of way from West End uphill to Crafton. I believe it went on to Carnegie but I don't know where the right of way went exactly.

[@trolleytravels]

This video is highlighting areas where there are still a significant amount tracks left. I know about the right of way that went through Crafton. Some of it is now a trail. But in that case, there's also very small pieces of rail left. Same with the 10 West View line in the North Hills - you can still see where it went but very little trackage left. That being said, the video is still a work in progress. Since even the update, I discovered more track in Millvale and will be doing another update shortly.

[@s.sestric9929]

I grew up near Millvale and I know those tracks. I also remember seeing remnants of the 21 Fineview line in the North Side, coming down off Television Hill. It was a street so narrow that the people living there could board the car from their front porch. At 12.24% the 21 Fineview had steepest grade on system. Someone took great color photos of it's last day of operation, on KZbin titled "Last Day for the Pittsburgh's scenic Fineview Line 4/30/1966". The 94 Aspinwall line ended in the Loop in Aspinwall. I'm not sure of the exact route, but there is what looks like a train station building at 354 Commercial Ave which might have served it.

[@bobray8637]

It whent from town down crafton blvd. Made a left or right at blacks bridge next to the elementary school. Turned left then right on to idlewood down 50 into heidelberg and its turn around was behind Walgreens where collier ave and 50 meet.

[@albertcarello619]

Maybe one day these tracks shown here abandoned may come back to life and use.

[@alexandersalter6686]

Does anyone know if anything still remains of the streetcar system in Nashville Tennessee?

[@thatmobilemenace1409]

@Jack Demnyan, what are the coordinates for Munhall Loop? I'm planning to go and check it out for my self and I'm not able to find it

[@andylucas8262]

It's on rt 837 (River Rd.) Between the Rankin bridge and the entrance to The Waterfront Munhall Pa 15120

[@thatmobilemenace1409]

@@andylucas8262 Thank you so much!

[@bobray8637]

I just retraced the crafton route from town to heidelberg. I love doing things like that.

[@HerminiePA]

When you say "town", do you mean downtown Pittsburgh or downtown Crafton?

[@bobray8637]

@@HerminiePA Pittsburgh.

[@madringking1119]

I wonder why they never tried taking the rails out of the ground.

[@leadersofthenewschool]

Magnificient!

[@Geno2733]

I wanted a piece of the rail used for the Carson Street line. Pissed me off that they wouldn't let me take any.

[@bobesposito7235]

Sorry to see the streetcars go. They used electricity.

[@ghostmost2614]

Pit missing the trolley now

[@TimWhiteRailProductions]

Cool

[@alstondutton5850]

Leave those tracks there.

[@timmyturner5088]

alston dutton Right on👍

[@jakemichael8586]

so sad. in Jacksonville fl their are remnants not as well preserved but can see in the road ware the tracks wear. their are tracks hear and their nothing like this!! it takes more work to see the remains but thy are their. the city has plans to rebuild the right of ways. think of all the money saved if thy had never ripped it up. infrastructure is a joke in the us. take care.

[@aydenkendlick]

Hey I know him I'm a member at work

[@kasonboston2952]

They can still reintroduce the street car with not even as much as other cities are paying

[@maddog2771]

That will never happen

[@RRansomSmith]

Um no. Still have to secure that rail as it's been non maintained for over 50 years.

[@shycheyenne9460]

So sad

[@losh330]

Gosh. GM should pay to reinstate the street car line.

[@Brianrockrailfan]

could Pittsburgh, PA ever have streetcar lines again ?🚋