South Hills Junction

[modelbob]

Last night I finished up the new links directory, and was doing some organizing and testing. I came across this model railroad, which I've seen before, but always enjoy visiting again.

http://www.eastpenn.org/shj.htm

His landing page is rather plain, but don't let that fool you. It's an incredible railroad, and well worth a look.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, and can tell you he did an amazing job of capturing South Hills Junction. For those of you unfamiliar with it, SHJ is a junction on the streetcar line that serves downtown Pittsburgh. Due to the topography of the area, most of the lines serving South Hill come through a tunnel to get to the downtown. On the south side of the tunnel is a large junction and shops. Interesting prototype and an amazing model.

Be sure and check out this page:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/bdietrich/scenes.htm

He has duplicated prototype photos on the model, and by comparing the two you can see just how accurate the model is. Really neat!

[CBCNSfan]

Gee, now you got me hooked. I'm really impressed with those trees, excellent modeling, but it's going to take more than 20 min. to study these links.
Thanks for the links Bob
Cheers Willis

[Steve B]

Like the fall colours in there Bob, very nice

[Jim Holland]

[QUOTE=modelbob;33627]Last night I finished up the new links directory,...

http://www.eastpenn.org/shj.htm

I grew up in Pittsburgh, and can tell you he did an amazing job of capturing South Hills Junction. For those of you unfamiliar with it, SHJ is a junction on the streetcar line that serves downtown Pittsburgh. Due to the topography of the area, most of the lines serving South Hill come through a tunnel to get to the downtown. On the south side of the tunnel is a large junction and shops. Interesting prototype and an amazing model.

Be sure and check out this page:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/bdietrich/scenes.htm
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I grew up in Pittsburgh as well -- while I was born in the East End, I grew up in Dormont on the 42-Dormont TrolleyCar line that ran through that tunnel.
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There were two major loops in downtown Pittsburgh for the South Hills lines::
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01.>-- Grant, Liberty and Wood counterclockwise
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02.>-- Smithfield, 7th, Liberty clockwise.
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All then traveled across the Monongahela on the prw of the Smithfield St Bridge and climbed about 3,600 feet uphill on a 6% grade to South Hills Junction.
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The lines there were:
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Charleroi Interurban, 37-miles One Way Through Charleroi to Roscoe. Post June-30-1953, this was shortened to Library line to Simmons, Still Operating in 2006, 100-years later!
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Washington Interurban, 29-miles One Way through Canonsburg and Houston. Post August-30-1953 it was the Drake line, part of which is still operating to South Hills Village, 97-years later! The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) purchased part of the Washington Interurban at County Home and operated their first 3 cars under their own power to the Museum post-abandonment on February-07-1954!
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Shannon local on the Overbrook portion of the Interurban shared by both Charleroi and Washington Interurbans which continued 1+ miles past the Castle Shannon loop to Washington Jct where the lines split.
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38-Mt.Lebanon
39-Brookline
40-Mt.Washington
42-Dormont
43-Neeld - Rush Hour Short trip of 42-Dormont
44-Knoxville
47-Carrick via Tunnel, rush hour only and faster than normal 53-Carrick line.
48-Arlington
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A double track wye split the lines at the Junction with the 44, 47, 48 lines taking the left leg from the Motormans perspective heading south.
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The right leg of the wye broke shortly with the Interurbans taking off uphill to Interurban territory that was largely operated with US&S signalling, although some outer portions still used the older Nachods. Overbrook immediately south of the Junction originally had 3 single track sections with 2 sidings - this was expanded to 4 sidings post 1953. Once the line crossed Saw Mill Run, double track existed past Finleyville on the Charleroi line and to Washington Jct on the Washington line which immediately became single track. The Overbrook portion was closed in the early 1990s and pat didn't want to rebuild it but it did reopen about a year ago completely double track with more grade separation.
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The 38, 39, 40, 42, 43 took off to the right of the Interurbans and immediately the 40-line turned right again. In the angle formed by the 40 and 38, 39, 42, 43 lines was the yard with 6 tracks outside, 4 inside buildings with pits and further south, storage east of the main was also used. Very large yard.
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The 40-line then wound up on top of Mt.Washington over the tunnel it used to get to the same! Some single track in streets with signaling, steep grades, Incline connections, and spectacular views of the city below! End of the line was single track with double track loop to allow cars to pass.
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Bob Dietrich, who built the HO model of the Junction, lived on the 40 line and hopes to make another module to feature this line.
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The Only signaling at the Junction included two derails, one to each wye lead into the tunnel heading north, downgrade, which was interlocked with the switch outbound. Everything was under the control of the individual TrolleyCar operator who had to set the derail electrically before receiving a time delayed signal to proceed. Cars looped the admin building in the center of the wye and then crossed the Interurban line, joined the 38 line then cut off into the yard -- ALL this line of sight! Until 1953, service was every couple minutes on the city lines in rush hours so there was Extremely Heavy Traffic Here!!
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Three other lines operated in the South Hills but didn't use the tunnel::
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49-Beltzhoover crossed the Smithfield Bridge, turned left onto E.Carson, and then immediately headed uphill on New Arlington on single track to join the 48-line at the top of the hill - this could be used as a tunnel bypass line.
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50-Carson crossed the bridge and turned left onto E.Carson and remained on Carson.
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The 53-Carrick used 3rd inbound and 4th outbound downtown, then 2nd St for a short spell before crossing the Monongahela for a short run on E.Carson then up 18th to Brownsville Road!!!
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http://206.103.49.193/pitts/htm/pitt156.htm -- PCC Interurban 1716 in this photo sits on top of the switch leading to its track south on Overbrook at SHJ and has about 35-miles to go! Sister 1763 behind is on the 42-Dormont and will move to the right on the switch under 1716!!!
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Yep - I Like Pitsburgh Railways!!!
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Jim___Holland