Trolleyology: Pittsburgh Streetcars: April 1971

Join PTM staff, volunteers, members, and friends of the Museum for our Zoom series, Trolleyology! These programs feature Pennsylvania transit history topics and tales of our collection that you can experience from home. Registration is required but free of charge. Donations are welcome and encouraged.

In the spring of 1971, the Pittsburgh streetcar system was a mere shadow of its former glory, and it was about to shrink even more. For a high school student visiting the city for the first time, however, what remained was intoxicating, with plenty of activity. This show follows a teenage Dave around the South Hills as he rode and photographed the tired-looking, but incredibly fascinating remaining routes. Featured subjects include the single-track, rush-hour only operation between Castle Shannon and Mt. Lebanon, which is now part of the PRT Red Line, and the hilltop lines in Beltzhoover, Allentown and Knoxville, which had just over half-a-year left to run.

Dave is a retired U.S. Navy Commander. During his 20-year career he was the chief engineer of a nuclear-powered submarine and a member of the commissioning crew of the U.S.S. Albuquerque (SSN 706).  He has worked in the passenger rail industry for over 27 years, and is recently-retired from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority where he served as the Chief Vehicle Engineering Officer for nearly seven years.

Together with different co-authors, Dave has written four books about Amtrak subjects. The Metroliners (published in 2016) and Fifty Years of Amtrak Trains (2022) were created with Bruce Goldberg. Last year, Amtrak By the Numbers: 2 (a much-improved version of the 2011 Amtrak By the Numbers) was published with El Simon and Kevin EuDaly as co-authors. Dave’s first published photo graced the cover of the February 1976 issue of Traction and Models. It was an image of Pittsburgh’s “The Spirit of 1776” Bicentennial-painted trolley on Arlington Avenue.

Dave has lived in Wilmington, DE, for the past 27 years, with his wife Ann, and two cats. Through the years, Ann has remained the same, while various cats have come and gone. Dave and Ann have two sons, both of whom work at Lockheed Martin.

When: Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 7 PM ET

A Zoom link will be sent to you in a confirmation email after registration. For those who have registered by 12 PM on the day of the program, a reminder email will also be sent with an easy-to-click link to join the Zoom.

If you do not receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link, please reach out to Kristen Fredriksen at kfred@patrolley.org.