Parkway Limited
Encyclopedia
The Parkway Limited was a short-lived commuter train operated by PennDOT and Conrail between Pittsburgh
and Greensburg, Pennsylvania
in 1981. The train was created in response to construction work on the section of Interstate 376
known as Parkway East. The train was funded by $2 million of a $10 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration
.
The service had two departures daily in each direction: early morning inbound runs from Greensburg and Pitcairn
, with corresponding outbound returns in the late afternoon. To operate the service PennDOT and Conrail acquired ten refurbished coaches from Amtrak
, the national passenger railroad operator. Amtrak itself had acquired the ten coaches in 1971 when it took over most private-sector long-haul passenger services. The ten coaches had been built by Budd
and Pullman-Standard between 1940 and 1954. Amtrak declared the cars surplus after it switched from steam heating
to head end power
. The trains used Penn Station
in downtown Pittsburgh, becoming the first commuter rail service there since 1964.
The new service began running on March 3, 1981. Initial patronage was good, with the first trains standing-room only, but by summer ridership had dwindled. The second inbound trip from Pitcairn, which carried at times as few as five passengers, was dropped. To compensate Amtrak
began stopping the Fort Pitt
(Pittsburgh—Altoona) at Pitcairn (the train already stopped at Greensburg). Service at Manor in was discontinued in favor of Irwin, 2.4 miles (3.9 km) closer to Pittsburgh. In addition, a move to mainline trackage in Westmoreland County
shaved 12 minutes off the schedule.
PennDOT canceled the train in November, citing insufficient ridership. From a high of 600 at the train's launch daily ridership had dropped below 200.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War...
in 1981. The train was created in response to construction work on the section of Interstate 376
Interstate 376
Interstate 376 is a major auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, located entirely within the Allegheny Plateau. It runs from I-80 near Sharon south and east to a junction with the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Monroeville, after having crossed the Turnpike...
known as Parkway East. The train was funded by $2 million of a $10 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
.
The service had two departures daily in each direction: early morning inbound runs from Greensburg and Pitcairn
Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
Pitcairn is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, east of Pittsburgh. Early in the 20th century, it was the site of large railroad yards and shops that employed nearly ten thousand men. The population increased from 2,601 in 1900 to 6,310 in 1940, but has since declined...
, with corresponding outbound returns in the late afternoon. To operate the service PennDOT and Conrail acquired ten refurbished coaches from Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national passenger railroad operator. Amtrak itself had acquired the ten coaches in 1971 when it took over most private-sector long-haul passenger services. The ten coaches had been built by Budd
Budd Company
The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and was formerly a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars during the 20th century....
and Pullman-Standard between 1940 and 1954. Amtrak declared the cars surplus after it switched from steam heating
Steam generator (railroad)
Steam generator is the term used to describe a type of boiler used to produce steam for climate control and potable water heating in railroad passenger cars...
to head end power
Head end power
Head end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
. The trains used Penn Station
Union Station (Pittsburgh)
Union Station is a historic train station at Grant Street and Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States.-History:Unlike many union stations built in the U.S...
in downtown Pittsburgh, becoming the first commuter rail service there since 1964.
The new service began running on March 3, 1981. Initial patronage was good, with the first trains standing-room only, but by summer ridership had dwindled. The second inbound trip from Pitcairn, which carried at times as few as five passengers, was dropped. To compensate Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
began stopping the Fort Pitt
Fort Pitt (Amtrak)
The Fort Pitt was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Fort Pitt was a so-called Section 401 train, meaning that its operation was subsidized by the state of Pennsylvania....
(Pittsburgh—Altoona) at Pitcairn (the train already stopped at Greensburg). Service at Manor in was discontinued in favor of Irwin, 2.4 miles (3.9 km) closer to Pittsburgh. In addition, a move to mainline trackage in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
shaved 12 minutes off the schedule.
PennDOT canceled the train in November, citing insufficient ridership. From a high of 600 at the train's launch daily ridership had dropped below 200.