Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
. Originally built in 1871, it may have been the first American common carrier
narrow gauge railroad. It purchased a rail line called the Coal Hill Coal Railroad
from the Pittsburgh Coal Company
, and used a coal mine under Mt. Washington as a tunnel to transport coal from Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania
to Pittsburgh. Passenger traffic was added soon afterwards, and the train carried passengers during the day and coal at night. The original plan was to extend the line to Finleyville, Pennsylvania
, but the original narrow gauge line ran only as far as Castle Shannon. The right of way continued as the Pittsburgh, Castle Shannon and Washington Railroad, later to become part of the Pittsburgh Southern Railroad.
In spite of its location above the rivers in Pittsburgh, it sustained flood damage on at least one occasion. The Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel
was closed to passenger traffic in 1880, but coal trains continued to use it until 1912. Passengers continued to travel over Mt. Washington via two inclines, the Castle Shannon Incline
and a "back" incline. The right of way, excluding the tunnel through the coal mine, was leased by Pittsburgh Railways
in 1905, and later purchased in 1950. The railroad ran with a dual gauge
system, with coal trains continuing to run on the narrow gauge, and at night, and trolleys on a wider gauge. , The right of way is part of the Pittsburgh Light Rail
transportation system today, from South Hills Junction
to Library, Pennsylvania
.
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
. Originally built in 1871, it may have been the first American common carrier
Common carrier
A common carrier in common-law countries is a person or company that transports goods or people for any person or company and that is responsible for any possible loss of the goods during transport...
narrow gauge railroad. It purchased a rail line called the Coal Hill Coal Railroad
Coal Hill Coal Railroad
The Coal Hill Coal Railroad began as a coal mine on the north face of Mt. Washington, then known as "Coal Hill", begun by Jacob Beltzhoover in 1825. This mine was operated by a series of persons, finally by James M. Bailey, who extened the mine completely though the hill to the south side of the...
from the Pittsburgh Coal Company
Pittsburgh Coal Company
The Pittsburgh Coal Company was a bituminous coal mining company, controlled by the Mellon family. It later merged with Consolidation Coal Company, controlled by the Rockefeller family.-Coal Mines:...
, and used a coal mine under Mt. Washington as a tunnel to transport coal from Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania
Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania
Castle Shannon is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 8,316 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
to Pittsburgh. Passenger traffic was added soon afterwards, and the train carried passengers during the day and coal at night. The original plan was to extend the line to Finleyville, Pennsylvania
Finleyville, Pennsylvania
Finleyville is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, named for John Finley. It was built at the junction of Brownsville Road and the 'Washington Road' from Cox's Fort to Catfish Camp, now Washington, Pennsylvania...
, but the original narrow gauge line ran only as far as Castle Shannon. The right of way continued as the Pittsburgh, Castle Shannon and Washington Railroad, later to become part of the Pittsburgh Southern Railroad.
In spite of its location above the rivers in Pittsburgh, it sustained flood damage on at least one occasion. The Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel
Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel
The Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel, also known as the Mount Washington Coal Tunnel, was a narrow gauge railway tunnel under Mt. Washington.-History:It was originally begun as a coal mine in 1825 by Jacob Beltzhoover....
was closed to passenger traffic in 1880, but coal trains continued to use it until 1912. Passengers continued to travel over Mt. Washington via two inclines, the Castle Shannon Incline
Castle Shannon Incline
The Castle Shannon Incline was a funicular railroad in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was originally built in 1890 as part of the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad as a means of transporting passenger traffic over Mt. Washington, rather than using the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel...
and a "back" incline. The right of way, excluding the tunnel through the coal mine, was leased by Pittsburgh Railways
Pittsburgh Railways
Pittsburgh Railways was one of the predecessors of the Port Authority of Allegheny County. It had 666 PCC cars, the third largest fleet in North America. It had 68 street car routes, of which only three are used by the Port Authority as light rail routes...
in 1905, and later purchased in 1950. The railroad ran with a dual gauge
Dual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
system, with coal trains continuing to run on the narrow gauge, and at night, and trolleys on a wider gauge. , The right of way is part of the Pittsburgh Light Rail
Pittsburgh Light Rail
The Pittsburgh Light Rail is a light rail system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; it functions as a subway in Downtown Pittsburgh and largely as an at-grade light rail service in the suburbs. The system is owned and operated by the Port Authority of Allegheny County...
transportation system today, from South Hills Junction
South Hills Junction (PAT station)
South Hills Junction is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network. This station served as the original "merge point" of the inbound Beechview and Overbrook branches of the light rail system, just before the run under Mount Washington through the Mount Washington...
to Library, Pennsylvania
Library, Pennsylvania
Library, Pennsylvania is an unincorporated community in South Park Township, Pennsylvania along Brownsville Road. Originally known as Loafer's Hollow, it was re-named Library by its residents in honor of the first library in the area, founded by John Moore in 1833.South of Library, the original...
.
External links
- Pittsburgh & Castle Shannon Narrow Gauge Railroad http://liquala.com/pcs.html