PRR Steam Era CTC Video

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Wed Feb 26, 2014 12:48 am

At about 3:30 into this video are some nice steam era shots of PRR CTC dispatching.

http://youtu.be/4v0iSdMLjTw

rock island lines · **Joined:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:20 pm **Posts:** 487

Not only that, but a street car scene at the 5:00 mark.

So who here can ID this streetcar line, hmm?

Larry Lovejoy · **Posted:** Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:42 am

Looks like Detroit; most likely Woodward Avenue.

Interurban · **Joined:** Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:11 am **Posts:** 12

Definitely Detroit, but streets didn't really cross Woodward at those angles. That's the corner of Grand River (streetcar route) with Grand Blvd W. and Dexter. Nice shot and cool video! The PRR footage is nice too :)

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

Most definitely Detroit, at least one neighborhood is in Eastown (the florist's with Michigan Casket next door). And who could mistake "Jimmie F. Bloink"!

Most of these shots are from different angles of the same intersection; you can see some of the landmarks lining up (the two billboards; the street with the trolley line, the Monarch Upholstery building. It's not Woodward Avenue, that crosses at a right angle. Could this be the area now occupied by I-75? The only other oblique intersection I can see where W. Grand is divided is at Jefferson Avenue, near Riverside Park -- an area crossed by what appear to be multiple railroad tracks.

Hopefully one of our traction whizzes will identify the car, and the route. I know essentially nothing about Detroit traction.

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

A little more:

Google street view for Grand Blvd. and Gratiot:

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.372743, ... P5HFeA!2e0

I don't see this reflecting very much that was there, although that may not mean much in contemporary Detroit.

Here is contemporary Grand River:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grand ... a8!6m1!1e1

Hopefully one of our traction whizzes will identify the car, and the route. I know essentially nothing about Detroit traction.

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

Could this be Michigan St.?

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:20 pm

That's definately a Detroit Department of Street Railways Peter Witt streetcar. I don't have my DSR book here with me, but it looks like one of the Kuhlman-built DSR Witts, which had the later "brow" added on the front for the destination sign.

Two DSR Witts survive, both built by SLCC, one at IRM and the other at Seashore. Both are on their second home in presevation. The IRM car was at the Henry Ford for years, while Seashore's example languished at the Ohio Railway Museum.