Pittsburgh Streetcars in the 1960s -- East Side (East End) Scenes

[@Jeff-uj8xi]

I rode and filmed all of those Pittsburgh East End streetcar lines, regular service and on many fan trips. My movies are all transferred to video now. Believe it or not, I actually 'walked' the Pittsburgh streetcar lines to film them. Who could have imagined that almost 50 years later, I'd be a sick old man in his late-70's, hooked up to oxygen 24/7 and hardly able to walk a few steps anymore, even with a cane or walker. I even filmed cars at the old Craft Avenue car house back then. I filmed cars speeding along Forbes Avenue through Frick Park. There was a long stretch between stops and the operators would really open up there....at least 45 mph. They had the power pedal to the peg !! Another spot that I filmed back then was Ardmore Blvd., with the 87 Ardmore cars. I can imagine what that private right-of-way must have been like years before the track got so bad. In the last days, the rails were in dirt, no ballast or ties showing. The track was so bad that if you tried to go fast, you'd have been on the ground. When the PCC cars were new, they must have been flying along Ardmore Blvd. I was there for the East End last day runs on January 28, 1967. It was a gloomy, dark, raw, miserable cold day and it had started to snow. I was at the Stadium Forbes Field siding in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The last of the cars were pulling in there, enroute back to the car house. I was standing there with my movie camera filming with super-8 color film, recording the last day activity. A Route Foreman {Supervisor} walked up to me and handed me his switch Iron. I thought he wanted me to give him a hand. But much to my pleasant surprise, he exclaimed, "here.....this is yours....I don't need it anymore" !! I actually brought that switch Iron home on the airplane back to New Jersey. To this very day, that switch Iron is hanging here on a door knob in my computer room. Imagine taking a switch iron on an airplane...lol.... You'd never get away with anything like that today. You'd probably be arrested by the security people. But in 1967, those were the idyllically happy and peaceful halcyon days before terrorists.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Jeff, Thanks for watching and for your comprehensive and most interesting comment about your experiences and memories. I, too, did a lot of walking in my photographic ventures. It's the best way to see things and set up the shots you want. Unfortunately, one needed patience because the frequency of service on some of the routes was not good. I took some 8mm movies, but always thought that 35mm looked better, but didn't show the action. Too bad today's video technology didn't exist then. It's sad that you are unwell now, and I wish you all the best. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@dmzabo3914]

Thank you sir. Because of what you did so many years ago I can recall the start of my youth. I was just a small child when they started to phase these gems out of service. But I can remember yesterday because of your efforts. Best wishes.

[@andrewfyakim525]

This is great, thank you for posting it!... I liked seeing all the old cars as much as seeing all the street-cars! I was born in Pittsburgh in 1953. Lived on East Street until I was 3. As a kid in the 1950/60's we rode the street-cars a lot. My grandmother lived in Rankin and worked at Horne's downtown. She rode the street-cars to work, and to anywhere else they could take her. She never owned a car, in fact she never drove a car in her life. I don't remember if, or how they were heated, but I remember them being cold inside in the winter.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Andrew, Thanks for watching and for sharing your memories. I'm glad you liked the presentation and appreciate you taking the time to let me know. The PCCs had some heat, but maybe not enough to overcome Pittsburgh's cold winters. Your grandmother would have been able to travel to many places because Pittsburgh had a very extensive streetcar system, reaching all parts of the metropolitan area. Cheers, tassiebaz. 😃

[@quetzal4042]

When I was a child in the early 60s we would drive into Pittsburgh along Ardmore Blvd and I remember I would see the streetcars zipping along the medial strip and then disappearing into the underpass. I thought that was so cool. Always wondered where they went from there.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Lawrence, Thanks for watching and for sharing those memories. That would have been Route 87-Ardmore, which ran between Pittsburgh and Wilmerding until September, 1966 when it was cut back to Wilkinsburg. Its last trip as a trolley was 27 January 1967. From Wilmerding it ran through East Pittsburgh onto Ardmore Blvd, then onto Franklin Avenue through Wilkinsburg, East Liberty and on to Pittsburgh. Cheers, tassiebaz. 😃

[@philscholze6528]

I know EXACTLY where you mean "disappeared" 87ARDMORE. After it disappeared, it went into E. Pittsburgh and out to Wilmerding. That was the end of the line. Then it would turn around in a loop and start back into town. I used to live just off Ardmore Blvd. I would fall asleep to the sound of the 87! Great memories.

[@quetzal4042]

@@philscholze6528 . . ..while Ardmore then looped around to the GEORGE WESTINGHOVSE BRIDGE (yes they spelled it with a "V"), at the time the longest concrete span in the world.

[@Del_Monico]

THANK YOU OH THANK YOU for not inserting some type of horrible music in the background.... THANNK YOU!

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Craig, Thanks for watching and for taking the time to let me know you liked the video. I experimented with background music, but I didn't like it either so it's not in any of my presentations. Cheers, tassiebaz. 😄

[@RoadKing-ky2bs]

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. I have some recollection of the streetcars in the late 70's, mostly in downtown around Penn and Liberty Avenues. The PAT buses were king at that time, but good memories. Beautiful photos you too, truly a treasure. Thank you.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi 2016 Road King, Thanks for watching and for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the presentation. In the early 1960s, streetcars were still king before decisions were made to get rid of them. Because of Pittsburgh geography, the streetcar routes there were unlike anywhere else and were always fun to ride and photograph. Regards, tassiebaz.

[@dmzabo3914]

Thanks for the memories of an America that no longer exists. These were simpler times and everything was so much different good and bad.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi DMZABO, Thanks for watching and for your insightful comment. Those who lived through the good old days remember them as such. I'm glad you enjoyed the presentation and appreciate you taking the time to let me know. I'm happy to have been able to share these memories. Stay well. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@lesal.1373]

Grew up in Point Breeze in the 60s but only took the streetcar when visiting my Nanny/grandmother in McKees Rocks. She would take me downtown to shop and lunch at the Tictoc in Kaufman's. To be honest, the streetcars scared the heck out of me. Thanks for the great shots of the East End.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi lesal.1373, Thanks for watching and for sharing your memories. I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures and appreciate you taking the time to let me know. Cheers and all the best fir 2025. 😄

[@claudiahansen4938]

Wonderful slideshow and films of the streetcars of my childhood. I hadn't remembered how quickly they traveled, or their lithe agility to make those close turns. Was born at Columbia hospital in Wilkinsburg in 1954, but left in 1971 to make my career elsewhere. Your excellent work brings the past to life! Thank you!

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Claudia, Thanks for watching and for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the presentation. Regards, tassiebaz.

[@jonnybgood84]

I commented on you other video but I just have to say thanks again for this footage. I was born in the 80’s and I heard my grandmother tell stories of riding the streetcar. All that exists now is the blue and red light rail lines though the south hills which is not the same experience. I wish I had a time machine..

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Jonathan, Thanks for watching and for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed the presentation. The blue and red light rail lines are modernizations of what was and, you are right, it is not the same experience. Pittsburgh is geographically different than anywhere else. This led to the streetcar lines being unique. I always thought it would have been nice to have kept a line running between Mt Washington and Fineview. What a trip that would have been. A time machine would be great. I'd love to go back and capture these memories with today's video technology. But, we'll have to settle for what we do have. Stay well. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@jamesslick4790]

"East Side" is a term that only people under 30 and /or Channel 4 ever used. This area is the East End. Worse is when people tell me that I live in "Allegheny West" on the "North Shore". I live in Manchester on the North Side.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi James, Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment. I had a similar comment from a viewer about four years ago and changed the title in the KZbin description to include East End. To change the video itself, I would have to withdraw it, redo it, and install it again, and lose all the statistics and comments, so I took the easy way. Wish I was under 30 so I could have claimed that as my excuse. Cheers, tassiebaz. 😄

[@jaylewis5035]

Not seen here but I rode the 66-Wilkinsburg via Forbes, 94-Sharpsburg, 95-Butler Street, 96-East Liberty & 62nd Street and 98-Glassport.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Jay, Thanks for watching and for your comment. I wish I could have ridden and photographed the routes you mentioned, but they were already gone before my first visit. Cheers, tassiebaz.😄

[@tlininger36]

Wonderful memories, thank you!

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Tom, Thanks for watching. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know you enjoyed the presentation. Stay well. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@bigbird51]

Brings back memories of childhood and teens. Nice shot of Max Azen Furs at Liberty and 6th Ave!

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Duane, Thanks for watching and for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the presentation. Regards, tassiebaz.

[@hjebone]

Just amazing. We were there in 8-66. I love the synchronized flash shots!

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Stu, Thanks for watching and for your kind words. I'm glad you liked the presentation and appreciate you taking the time to let me know. I was very pleased with the pictures, especially since it was back in the good old days when film was used. Stay well. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@jimhurst82]

3:29 is Fifth Ave and Robinson St in Oakland headed towards the Birmingham Bridge. 10:04 again at 10:14 and a few more, N. Saint Claire St and Bunker Hill St. in Highland Park. Buses still sit on N St Claire St how those streetcars were sitting. 17:33 Liberty Ave by the old Greyhound station and 18th st I believe.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi James, Thanks for watching and for taking the time to post those interesting and helpful bits of information. Stay well. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@dmzabo3914]

Good eye. This was how it used to be. That Liberty Ave shot is where the Amtrak trains would leave the station and I think the old buyers mart store was right around there.

[@raycaster4398]

No side mirrors! These things were cool.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Ray, They were classics. Thanks for watching and for your comment. Cheers, tassiebaz. 😃

[@andythompson7725]

Very familiar with them back in the day!

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Andy, The good old days. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@timothyarts8969]

My brother said you could get on in Turtle Creek and ride all the way to downtown. I think he said they ran all nite... pretty cool...

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Timothy, Thanks for watching and for your comment. Route 87 went from downtown through Turtle Creek to Wilmerding until September 1966, when it was cut back to Wilkinsburg. Route 62 went even further to Trafford, but was discontinued in May, 1962. At one time. Pittsburgh had a collection of some of the most unusual streetcar routes anywhere. Regards, tassiebaz.

[@Paul-ed6zy]

Who is your brother from Turtle Creek?

[@FrancoM7747]

When the Gulf Tower was the tallest.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Frank, Thanks for watching. Cheers, tassiebaz.😃

[@keiththomas3141]

I rode the Pittsburgh Street Cars back and forth to Dormont when I was a kid. I loved street car. Quiet and no diesel exhaust.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Keith, Thanks for watching and for your comment. Luckily you can still ride the "light rail" to Dormont as that is one of the lines that survived. Not quite the same as the good old days, but at least it is there. Stay well, Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@iananderson5050]

Would you mind if I used some of this footage in a video on Pgh streetcar history? You would get fully credited as the owner/original poster of the media and my only intention would to provided commentary over it under fair use

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Ian, Thanks for watching. I have no problem with you using whatever footage you require for your presentation. Note that, besides this one, I have 5 other Pittsburgh streetcar videos on KZbin which may be of interest to you. If your project is made public after it is finished, please let me know. I'd love to see it. Cheers, tassiebaz. 😄

[@iananderson5050]

@tassiebaz awesome, thank you! I'm planning to make it public. Going to be talking about the politics and economics behind why Pittsburgh largely ditched light rail. Now all I need to do is find some footage of the Library T route. I might end up doing that myself though if I can get a good enough camera or drone

[@tassiebaz]

@@iananderson5050 Great. I've got some footage of Library (and Drake) in the good old days on my videos, but this might not suit your needs if you want more recent scenes. In any case, best of luck with your project. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@iananderson5050]

@@tassiebaz awesome! Thank you so much!

[@tassiebaz]

@@iananderson5050 It's my pleasure.

[@raycaster4398]

All the wires and poles!!

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Ray, Yes, the good old days, which we now appreciate. Thanks again. Cheers, tassiebaz. 🚋🚞😄

[@FAD1953]

Nice. My grandmother lived in Wilkinsburg. I rode the 75 many times as a kid. Very few movies exist of the East End lines.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi FAD1953, Thanks for watching and for your comment. Wish I had more movies of Pittsburgh, but I am thankful for what I did take during many visits to the city. 35mm slides always seem to produce better quality results than 8mm movies. The streetcar routes were all interesting and different from almost anywhere else because of the geography and terrain. All the best for 2018. Regards, tassiebaz.

[@frankieturner7887]

I remember riding those the one I most frequently was the 49 beltzhoover

[@tassiebaz]

Hi frankie, Thanks for watching and for your comment. There are some pictures of 49-Beltzhoover on my "Pittsburgh Streetcars in the 1960s - South Side Scenes - discontinued routes" (kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGXVc39jabmVoa8) video. Please have a look if you haven't already done so. Stay well. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@frankieturner7887]

@@tassiebaz you're welcome and I will take a look at the rest of your collection

[@regmason2329]

Without a doubt, Pittsburgh had the most unusual streetcar system in the country! HAD, the powers to be, just realized this and kept some of the more unusual lines Pittsburgh would have created a "Mecca" for the transit enthusiast!

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Reg, I agree. It would have been interesting for the ordinary tourist too. Note what's happened in San Francisco. Can you imagine a Fineview to Mount Washington route. Regards, tassiebaz.

[@regmason2329]

Thanks for the reply. I lived in the Pittsburgh area from 1976-86. Many segments of track and almost all the overhead poles were still in place on many lines. Today I imagine almost all are gone. San Francisco has an interesting system, BUT the uniqueness of the Pittsburgh system was like none other! Pittsburgh Railways was actually making money back in the day- BUT the city "fathers" wanted the trolleys out. Well they got their wish, and with the demise of heavy industry- there went the jobs as well. So sad- what could have been something so special went away- never to return.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Reg, I agree wholeheartedly. Part of Pittsburgh's charm was it's geography and industry. When I visited I used to enjoy trying to get from one place to another, which you could never do in a straight line. What was a street on a map was actually a set of steps up a hillside. Always was fun. You didn't have to go too far on the north side or the south side to think you were in another country. Ain't progress great (except for the unrecognized treasures it destroys.)! Regards, tassiebaz.

[@regmason2329]

So true my friend! Keep up the good work.

[@waltkeast9777]

Absolutely!

[@GoSlash27]

I only rode one of these once when I was a very small child in the early '70s. They were sketchy as hell. Rickety, clattering, dark, and lots of arcing. I've been fascinated by them ever since.

[@albertcarello619]

The streetcars didn't entirely disappeared. They're now called Light Rail Trolleys and the street running much of it was rerouted into subways and the lines with private right-of- way have been retained. A certain amount of street running has been retained by the stadium.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Albert, Thanks for watching and for the information. I've got a presentation of the downtown Pittsburgh area at kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKfIfXWEm9l_jqs Some of the scenes you mentioned are in that. Please have a look. Cheers, tassiebaz. 😃

[@jimwalsh233]

I loved the trolleys in the city where I lived, but there was just no practical way for them to share the roads with the ever increasing private auto traffic

[@rondaleestill3360]

You had to have tokens to ride the trolleys, I can't remember if it was 25 cents, then 50 .

[@rondaleestill3360]

You could hear them go ding ding

[@rondaleestill3360]

I remember my mother using this type of transportation to go out and take care of business, through Oakland I couldnt wait to get on my knees in the seat and look at the canons and canon balls, at soldiers and sailors memorial hall.m. I was four or five

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Ronda, Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment. Glad you can remember back that far about what seems to be a pleasant memory. Stay well. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@jaldav]

Took streetcar from Overbrook to Oakland for piano lessons at the old Pittsburgh Playhouse on Craft Ave.

[@seanmerritt2905]

Does anybody know the location shown at 1:43?

[@seanmerritt2905]

Never mind, I figured it out. It’s the intersection of Hazel Street and Main Street in Munhall.

[@tassiebaz]

@@seanmerritt2905 Hi, thanks for watching. I was just getting ready to reply when I noticed you found the location. All the best for 2023. Cheers, tassiebaz.

[@chuckdieselkicksdisks2380]

hays? @ 0:59 ? and Interboro Ave Lincoln Place @ 1:13 cool!

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Chuck, Thanks for watching and for your comment. I thought the location at 0:59 was Braddock Avenue in East Pittsburgh. It doesn't look anything like that today (the same for most locations). Cheers, tassiebaz. 😃

[@chuckdieselkicksdisks2380]

@@tassiebaz thanks

[@charlesmyers2457]

I rode via Hazelwood to homestead to kennywood

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Charles, Thanks for watching and for your comment. Cheers, tassiebaz. 😄

[@videothen]

Where is the location at 0:45?

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Martin, I believe it is Ardmore Blvd. and Electric Ave. in East Pittsburgh. Thanks for watching. tassiebaz

[@rickybee]

Coming of Ardmore Bl going into East Pittsburgh. Between the ramps from the Westinghouse Bridge.

[@phaedrabacker2004]

Hotel. Beer and liquor. 😊

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Phaedra, Thanks for watching. 😁

[@beerybill]

No East Side. It's East End.

[@tassiebaz]

Hi Guido, Thanks for watching and for your comment. Not being a native of Pittsburgh, I missed the local terminology for the area. I have amended the title to include the words "East End". Regards, tassiebaz.

[@beerybill]

@@tassiebaz Oddly, there's East End and West End but North Side and South Side. Go figure.