Pittsburgh Streetcars in the 1960s -- East Side (East End) Scenes

I rode and filmed all of those Pittsburgh East End streetcar lines, regular service and on many fan trips. My movies are all transferred to video now. Believe it or not, I actually 'walked' the Pittsburgh streetcar lines to film them. Who could have imagined that almost 50 years later, I'd be a sick old man in his late-70's, hooked up to oxygen 24/7 and hardly able to walk a few steps anymore, even with a cane or walker. I even filmed cars at the old Craft Avenue car house back then. I filmed cars speeding along Forbes Avenue through Frick Park. There was a long stretch between stops and the operators would really open up there....at least 45 mph. They had the power pedal to the peg !! Another spot that I filmed back then was Ardmore Blvd., with the 87 Ardmore cars. I can imagine what that private right-of-way must have been like years before the track got so bad. In the last days, the rails were in dirt, no ballast or ties showing. The track was so bad that if you tried to go fast, you'd have been on the ground. When the PCC cars were new, they must have been flying along Ardmore Blvd.  I was there for the East End last day runs on January 28, 1967. It was a gloomy, dark, raw, miserable cold day and it had started to snow. I was at the Stadium Forbes Field siding in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The last of the cars were pulling in there, enroute back to the car house. I was standing there with my movie camera filming with super-8 color film, recording the last day activity. A Route Foreman {Supervisor} walked up to me and handed me his switch Iron. I thought he wanted me to give him a hand. But much to my pleasant surprise, he exclaimed, "here.....this is yours....I don't need it anymore" !! I actually brought that switch Iron home on the airplane back to New Jersey. To this very day, that switch Iron is hanging here on a door knob in my computer room. Imagine taking a switch iron on an airplane...lol.... You'd never get away with anything like that today. You'd probably be arrested by the security people. But in 1967, those were the idyllically happy and peaceful halcyon days before terrorists.

Thanks for the memories of an America that no longer exists. These were simpler times and everything was so much different good and bad.

This is great, thank you for posting it!... I liked seeing all the old cars as much as seeing all the street-cars! I was born in Pittsburgh in 1953. Lived on East Street until I was 3. As a kid in the 1950/60's we rode the street-cars a lot. My grandmother lived in Rankin and worked at Horne's downtown. She rode the street-cars to work, and to anywhere else they could take her. She never owned a car, in fact she never drove a car in her life. I don't remember if, or how they were heated, but I remember them being cold inside in the winter.

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. I have some recollection of the streetcars in the late 70's, mostly in downtown around Penn and Liberty Avenues. The PAT buses were king at that time, but good memories. Beautiful photos you too, truly a treasure. Thank you.

Wonderful slideshow and films of the streetcars of my childhood. I hadn't remembered how quickly they traveled, or their lithe agility to make those close turns. Was born at Columbia hospital in Wilkinsburg in 1954, but left in 1971 to make my career elsewhere. Your excellent work brings the past to life! Thank you!

I commented on you other video but I just have to say thanks again for this footage. I was born in the 80’s and I heard my grandmother tell stories of riding the streetcar. All that exists now is the blue and red light rail lines though the south hills which is not the same experience. I wish I had a time machine..

I remember riding those the one I most frequently was the 49 beltzhoover

When I was a child in the early 60s we would drive into Pittsburgh along Ardmore Blvd and I remember I would see the streetcars zipping along the medial strip and then disappearing into the underpass. I thought that was so cool. Always wondered where they went from there.

Wonderful memories, thank you!

"East Side" is a term that only people under 30 and /or Channel 4 ever used. This area is the East End. Worse is when people tell me that I live in "Allegheny West" on the "North Shore". I live in Manchester on the North Side.

I rode the Pittsburgh Street Cars back and forth to Dormont when I was a kid. I loved street car. Quiet and no diesel exhaust.

Very familiar with them back in the day!

THANK YOU OH THANK YOU for not inserting some type of horrible music in the background.... THANNK YOU!

Brings back memories of childhood and teens. Nice shot of Max Azen Furs at Liberty and 6th Ave!

My brother said you could get on in Turtle Creek and ride all the way to downtown. I think he said they ran all nite... pretty cool...

Just amazing. We were there in 8-66. I love the synchronized flash shots!

Not seen here but I rode the 66-Wilkinsburg via Forbes, 94-Sharpsburg, 95-Butler Street, 96-East Liberty & 62nd Street and 98-Glassport.

3:29 is Fifth Ave and Robinson St in Oakland headed towards the Birmingham Bridge. 10:04 again at 10:14 and a few more, N. Saint Claire St and Bunker Hill St. in Highland Park. Buses still sit on N St Claire St how those streetcars were sitting. 17:33 Liberty Ave by the old Greyhound station and 18th st I believe.

Nice. My grandmother lived in Wilkinsburg. I rode the 75 many times as a kid. Very few movies exist of the East End lines.

When the Gulf Tower was the tallest.