1904 grade separation plan provides insight into community

In my recent column regarding the rail-fans meeting at the Bridgeville History Center, I reported that Doug Mahrer had introduced two interesting topics that were new to me — the 1904 Grade Separation Proposal and C. P. Mayer's plan to build a sports complex in the mid-1920s. This column will deal with the 1904 proposal.

According to Mr. Mahrer, the grade separation plan was based on a desire to eliminate the three Pennsylvania Railroad crossings in Bridgeville — the Bower Hill Road crossing and the two where Station Street crossed both the main line to Canonsburg and the B&M Branch. The plan would have greatly reduced the railroad's expenses and effectively eliminated significant liability.

Key to the plan was the construction of a trestle supporting Station Street high above the two rail lines. The trestle would begin at the Jane Way intersection and proceed uphill at a 7 percent grade to Washington Avenue. The current width of Station Street would be maintained, as would the sidewalks on each side. Three sets of stairs would provide access to ground level at key points.

The existing passenger station would be replaced by a freight station; a new passenger station would be built between the main line and the B & M Branch, supplemented by new platforms serving both lines. Railroad Street and all the buildings on it would be demolished to provide space for several freight sidings. Jane Way would be replaced by a major new street providing access to Baldwin Street.

The Bower Hill Road crossing would be eliminated, with an extension of Murray Avenue dead ending at the railroad. Bower Hill Road would terminate at its intersection with the new street replacing Jane Way. A new street would be constructed from Buck Alley to permit access to C.P. Mayer's Lumber Yard.

Vehicle access to the new freight station would be from a new short street running off Jane Way. From the drawing Mr. Mahrer presented, it is not obvious that vehicles could get to the new passenger station unless they went through Mayer's Lumber Yard. Perhaps that was not a problem in 1904 when the vehicles were mostly wagons drawn by horses.

Mr. Mahrer reported that the estimated cost of the project was $88,000, to be shared equally by the railroad; the Borough of Bridgeville; and the Carnegie, Heidelberg and Bridgeville Street Railway Company (a trolley line). The drawing of the proposed project clearly shows a trolley line running north on Washington Avenue to Station Street, down the trestle to Jane Way, down Jane Way to Baldwin Street, then east on Baldwin Street.

My efforts to research the Carnegie, Heidelberg and Bridgeville Street Railway Company have generated a very small amount of information so far. We know that it existed in 1897, because it was consolidated into WETCO, the West End Traction Company, that year.

WETCO was consolidated into the Southern Traction Company in 1900; a year later STC was renamed Pittsburgh Railways.

We know that there was a trolley line as far south as Heidelberg 70 years ago; we presume that was as far as the Street Railway ever got. The proposed route is intriguing; one wonders how they planned to get the trolley line to Bridgeville from Heidelberg.

The most direct route would be up the Washington Pike. Although the grade up to Kirwan Heights would have been substantial it would not have been insurmountable.

Following Chartiers Creek up its valley would have been difficult since the Pennsylvania Railroad had already acquired the usable right-of-way.

Perhaps they planned to follow the P C & Y Federal Branch to Presto, and then to enter Bridgeville from the south. Or, perhaps they intended to follow the P C & Y Beadling Branch through Panhandle to Bower Hill Road and come into Bridgeville from that direction.

The fact that the trolley line runs through Baldwin Street supports the contention of my friends from that neighborhood that it was indeed Bridgeville's alternate Main Street. I don't think Baldwin Street ran all the way to McLaughlin Run Road in 1904; I assume this proposal included that extension as well.

We are grateful to Doug Mahrer for bringing this subject to our attention. Even though it never came to fruition, it provides insight into life in our community 110 years ago.

John Oyler is a columnist for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-343-1652 or joylerpa@icloud.com.