m Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For those who were around, albeit young, during
> the war on electric transit the hostility of the
> auto related interests was just a given. The AAA
> was one of their most effective tools arguing
> against tracks in the streets. A classic case in
> point was when a Cleveland city council member who
> opposed the streetcars was rewarded with a
> dealership by GM.
>
> Of course the private street railway companies did
> not have a chance just as with the replacement
> privately owned bus operations. But public
> outfits like SF Muni could have done much better
> and probably would have without the anti-rail
> brainwashing. Note in Europe, with little to no
> oil deposits, electric rail fared much better
> postwar.
>
> There is a personal angle for me in this. I
> remember all too well in the summer of 1960 an
> intense conversation I had with visiting Uncle
> Howard at my grandparents' house. Uncle Howard
> was a Johnstown PA councilman at the time and he
> was hell bent on getting rid of those damned
> streetcars I remember he complained they had to
> jackhammer out the rails on the new bridge,
> claiming they never should have let the Johnstown
> Traction Co. install them there a few years
> before. My grandparents were quietly smiling that
> a mere 15 year old would have the temerity to
> argue with him. He was a formidable opponent but
> I did my best to state the case for saving the
> streetcars. Of course he had the last laugh.
>
> In more ways than one. They say when it comes to
> male pattern baldness look out for your maternal
> grandmother's brothers. Of course, that was Uncle
> Howard. And I got the chrome dome too.

That was an interesting read. I have seen a lot of photos of the Johnstown system and admired the orange cars. Well, you did your best trying to convince your uncle, so thanks.

I remember as a 15 year old in the early 1980s being furious beyond belief that certain rail lines and yards were being cast off or sold to developers, when I knew they would be needed in the future. And yep, I was right about that.