Library (PAT station)
Encyclopedia
Library is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County
's light rail
network, located in the Library neighborhood of South Park, Pennsylvania. It is the southern terminus of the Library branch of the Blue Line. A 430 space park and ride lot is located on the premises, drawing travelers from both South Park and Pittsburgh's suburbs in Washington County
, located just to the south. Despite the station's name there is no lending library near the train station, in the past many riders have been confused into thinking there was an actual library there.
interurban
line from Charleroi
to Pittsburgh was opened through South Park on September 12, 1903, with passengers changing at Castle Shannon
to continue their journey to Downtown via the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
. It was cut back to Library in 1953, with a turnaround loop for the single-ended PCC's that operated on the line. In the late 1980s, new light rail vehicles began to use the line. These new cars had larger, articulated bodies, and were thus unable to negotiate the loop. Moreover, these cars were double-ended, eliminating the need for such turn-around facilities. In 2004, the loop was removed and a new, larger station was built to better accommodate the light rail cars.
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and the 11th-largest in the United States. When considering that its service area is the 20th largest in the U.S...
's light rail
Pittsburgh Light Rail
The Pittsburgh Light Rail is a light rail system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; it functions as a subway in Downtown Pittsburgh and largely as an at-grade light rail service in the suburbs. The system is owned and operated by the Port Authority of Allegheny County...
network, located in the Library neighborhood of South Park, Pennsylvania. It is the southern terminus of the Library branch of the Blue Line. A 430 space park and ride lot is located on the premises, drawing travelers from both South Park and Pittsburgh's suburbs in Washington County
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
, located just to the south. Despite the station's name there is no lending library near the train station, in the past many riders have been confused into thinking there was an actual library there.
History
The Pittsburgh RailwaysPittsburgh Railways
Pittsburgh Railways was one of the predecessors of the Port Authority of Allegheny County. It had 666 PCC cars, the third largest fleet in North America. It had 68 street car routes, of which only three are used by the Port Authority as light rail routes...
interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
line from Charleroi
Charleroi, Pennsylvania
Charleroi is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, along the Monongahela River, 25 miles south of Pittsburgh. Charleroi was settled in 1890 and incorporated in 1891. The population in 1900 stood at 5,930; in 1910, 9,615; in 1920, 11,516, and in 1940, 10,784...
to Pittsburgh was opened through South Park on September 12, 1903, with passengers changing at Castle Shannon
Castle Shannon (PAT station)
Castle Shannon is a station on the "Beechview" branch of the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network. It is located in Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania and is served by the Red Line. Located away from the suburb's main commercial and residential districts, the station is designed...
to continue their journey to Downtown via the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad
The Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Originally built in 1871, it may have been the first American common carrier narrow gauge railroad. It purchased a rail line called the Coal Hill Coal Railroad from the Pittsburgh Coal...
. It was cut back to Library in 1953, with a turnaround loop for the single-ended PCC's that operated on the line. In the late 1980s, new light rail vehicles began to use the line. These new cars had larger, articulated bodies, and were thus unable to negotiate the loop. Moreover, these cars were double-ended, eliminating the need for such turn-around facilities. In 2004, the loop was removed and a new, larger station was built to better accommodate the light rail cars.