Trolleyology: A Ride to Charleroi

Join PTM Volunteer George Gula for a virtual interurban ride from Pittsburgh through Charleroi south to Roscoe. The scenic Charleroi line featured a number of bridges, followed today’s Routes 51, 88, and 837, and connected the big city with small towns in Allegheny and Washington County until its abandonment in 1953.
This video is part of the Trolleyology series, originally shared via Zoom. To help us continue these programs, please consider making a donation at pa-trolley.org.... Thanks for watching!

[@toolsteel8482]

Really enjoyed watching this. I grew up in Allenport. My father rode the street cars from Roscoe to Charleroi. Nice catch of the steam locomotive in Speers.

[@christopherwall6155]

Remember seeing 88 transit buses going thru South hills junction back when I was a kid in the 90's

[@michaelbarber8118]

Love you guys! So glad you keep this nostalgia alive!
I was born and raised in Roscoe, PA. Used to frequent Downes’ almost daily. I knew Sam, his son Chuck and grew up with Chuck’s boys. My friends and I even peddled newspapers for them.
My father and grandmother used to catch the trolly at Downes’ and take it round trip to Kennywood when my dad was a kid. I have had my father to the museum with me and his grandkids.
Greatly appreciate all that you do!

[@SWISS-it4tw]

I have watched this video so many times and still love it as much as the first. For many years I maintained the dental equipment in the office located in the former Roscoe Bank building. When finished at that location I would travel south thru Elco and down to California. Sadly both offices closed in 2019 and I don’t get down that way very often. This video reminds me of those days and also of days long gone by. Being born in 1964 I never had the chance to ride to Roscoe but have taken many trips on the trolley to visit my buddies Len and Tony at the Blue Line Grill in Library. I highly recommend taking a trolley ride and enjoying an experience that is over 100 years in the making. Traveling under the Allegheny River and going through the only trolley & bus tunnel in the United States is awesome!
Thank you George Gula for making this excellent video!!!!!
Jim D.

[@billconserva1461]

I grew up with the McKeesport Wilmerding railway practically in my back yard. I researched info on it and found it very fascinating It operated from 1894 up and til 1936, electrified from the beginning to..

[@johnfelsoci3224]

Wonderful

[@jimharris6213]

My family lived in Finleyville starting in 1964. I worked for 88 Transit for 23 years starting in 1976 and heard some of the stories about the trolley. I drove bus for about 14 years and noted some of the sites along the route. I posted the video on my FB to see if anyone knows someone who can answer some of the questions raised in the video.

[@JJinPhila]

I have only heard about this line. You could take a trolley from Charleroi to downtown Pittsburgh.

[@itze25]

The title feels weird seeing there is a town called Charleroi in Belgium where trolleys still run..

[@SonOfBaraki359]

and a few km to Charleroi OG, there's a trolley (well, tram) museum