Borough of Etna - Centennial Festivities Yearbook (Etna, PA)

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PITTSBURGH AND WESTERN LOCOMOTIVE 1886 Sections of this line were double-tracked between 1885 and 1390. It was sold to the B810 in 1886. The B S: O continued its operation with horse drawn cars in order to retain the franchise. The B S O was looking for an outlet to Chicago. It financed Henry TV. Oliver who built the Pittsburgh and Western through to New Castle. Control of the stock of the P Sz W was purchased by the B 81 0, and the name was formally changed to Baltimore and Ohio on February 1, 1902. Today, due to progress in other , ..',f7 .,, . ' fields of transportation, mostly freight is handled by the B 8 O through Etna. ln the early 1900's the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway was founded. A right of way was purchased and a line Constructed between Pittsburgh and Butler. The main power house was at Renfrew. 5V3 miles south of Butler. The Pittsburgh and Butler Railway was commonly known as the Butler Shortline. ,-'r-f, ,- F-. YI! .. . H f' ' ' sara .,,+ pikv 'I N-....,ka,,.. THE CUT GOING INTO ETNA FROM ROUTE 8 ns., H ' I

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THE BUTLER SHORT LINE The cars used in this line were built by the Niles Car and Manufacturing Company. Five of the original 13 cars had baggage compartments, all included smok- ing compartments and lavatories. They had four 100 horsepower Westinghouse motors, single phase and were equipped for double end, multiple unit operation. ln August 1907 there were 5 more cars on order. Speeds of 48 miles per hour were common and where grades were favorable maximum speed of 60 mph was attained. There were 59 stops between Pittsburgh and Butler. The cars on the Butler Short Line were distinguished by the fact that they were equipped with both trolley and pantograph. The trolley was used in the cities of Pittsburgh and Butler. The pantograph was used on the line between cities. ln the beginning three classes of runs were operated: rapid dispatch, 5 stops between terminal points, 65 minutes to Etna, 35 min- ',. 'Ms utes to Pittsburghg limited schedule, 25 stops, 35 min- utes to Etna, 35 minutes to Pittsburgh, local, average 35 stops, 92 minutes Butler to Etna, 35 minutes to Pittsburgh. Construction of the line was finished on April 4-, 1907, a party of officials boarded a car for an inspec- tion trip. Present for at least part of the trip were: George Heard, President of the Pittsburgh and Butler Street Railway, William Pape, General Manager, G. L. Wilcoxson, Superintendent, Pittsburgh Railways, and W. F. Fowler of Westinghouse. May 1, 1907 was a red letter day. On that day formal opening of the Butler Short Line took place and regular service began. The next event in the history of the Shortline came on October 24, 1913 when the line switched over to 1200 volt direct current. The Change was made to give greater efficiency and faster service. 1 Changing from Trolley to Pantograph in Butler if of R 'H ,inf-4