Saw Mill Run
Encyclopedia
Saw Mill Run is a tributary
of the Ohio River
in Pennsylvania
. It is an urban stream
, and lies entirely within Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
. The stream enters the Ohio just downstream from the Forks of the Ohio in Pittsburgh, at a place originally founded as the town of Temperanceville
in the 1830's. It provides an entry through the elevated plateau south of Pittsburgh known as the South Hills, and land transportation has paralleled the stream since the nineteenth century.
crossed the stream on a trestle, and extended upsteam in 1861. This railroad was purchased by the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
, who extended the line to follow the main stream of Saw Mill Run from the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel
to Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania
. The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad
followed the west branch of the stream towards Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
.
through a 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, which follows the stream from near the South Hills Junction (PAT station)
to Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania.
runs parallel to the stream, and this section is known as Saw Mill Run Boulevard.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It is an urban stream
Urban stream
An urban stream is a formerly natural waterway that flows through a heavily populated area. Urban streams are often significantly polluted, due to urban runoff and combined sewer outflows....
, and lies entirely within Allegheny County, 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...
. The stream enters the Ohio just downstream from the Forks of the Ohio in Pittsburgh, at a place originally founded as the town of Temperanceville
West End (Pittsburgh)
West End Village is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's west city area. It has a zip code of 15220, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 2 ....
in the 1830's. It provides an entry through the elevated plateau south of Pittsburgh known as the South Hills, and land transportation has paralleled the stream since the nineteenth century.
Railroads
The Coal Hill Coal RailroadCoal 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...
crossed the stream on a trestle, and extended upsteam in 1861. This railroad was purchased by the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
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...
, who extended the line to follow the main stream of Saw Mill Run from 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....
to 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:...
. The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad
Little Saw Mill Run Railroad
The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad was a standard gauge coal railroad in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It was incorporated July 23, 1850, and opened in April 1853. Originally, it was owned by the Harmony Society, and ran from Temperanceville, Pennsylvania on the Ohio River to Banksville,...
followed the west branch of the stream towards Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Mt. Lebanon is a home rule municipality, formerly a township, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 33,137 at the 2010 census....
.
Trolley and light rail
The right of way of the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon, excluding the tunnelPittsburgh 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....
through a 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 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, which follows the stream from near the South Hills Junction (PAT station)
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 Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania.
Highways
Part of Pennsylvania Route 51Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51 is a major state highway in Western Pennsylvania. It runs for from Uniontown to the Ohio state line near Darlington, where it connects with Ohio State Route 14. Route 51 is the termination point for Pennsylvania Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 48 and Pennsylvania Route 88. ...
runs parallel to the stream, and this section is known as Saw Mill Run Boulevard.