Pittsburgh Streetcar Loops

The purpose of this page is to serve as a partial listing and photographic record of former streetcar loops in the Pittsburgh region, especially those still in transit service.

62nd Street Loop

Pictures

Millvale Loop

Spring Garden Loop

Spring Hill Loop

This is distinct from the Spring Garden Loop. The 6D-Spring Looper visits the old Spring Hill line terminus (Rhine & Buente) on its way to the Spring Garden Loop.

PRC-Pittsburgh Railways Co.

Last summer (2001), I saw streetcar tracks on a brick street (Chestnut St) in Spring Garden. I suspect this is part of the line going to the Spring Hill Loop. Further investigation is required, however: according to the link above, the line was single-track, but I distinctly recall the tracks in Spring Garden being double-track.

Information from the Spring Hill/City View Times, Jan/Feb 2002. The link is broken; the text below was recovered from Google's cache.

Reprint from Spring View Gazette...1986    Although they are gone now, I am sure there are many who recall the old No.5 streetcars.     In 1907, a shuttle streetcar was put in operation and ran from Rhine & Buente to Ohio and Chestnut Streets. When the motorman reached the end of the line, he had to reverse the seats and outside trolley rod as there was no turn-around loop for the streetcar.     Eventually, double tracks were installed with a turn-around loop on Rhine. There were switching signals located at Itin & Goehring streets, and Chestnut & Spring Garden Ave. The motorman on the streetcar going down Itin had to stop the car while on the single track, get off the streetcar and pull the switch enabling the car to go onto a double track.      The second streetcar waiting at Goehring Street was then able to proceed up Itin Street on the single track. The switch at Chestnut and Spring Garden worked the same way. There were red and green signals at both locations so the motorman would be aware of any streetcar traffic on the single track.      In 1927, the streetcar began running into downtown Pittsburgh.     In 1957, Pittsburgh Railways converted the No. 5 streetcars to busses.  ---Freda Matusek

Avalon Loop

This is a loop off of California St in Avalon. The maps above show the loop as a rectangle, giving the impression of a mere circling maneuver on regular streets, but in fact the loop is ovoid. Buses traveling to the Avalon Loop veer right off of California and lay over on the northeastern half of the loop (or immediately go 'round the loop for the return trip). There is a Bus Stop sign on the Loop itself, though the driver on the 15A semi-helpfully dropped us off opposite the Loop after taking us around. Opposite the sign, there is a small building that I suspect contains a toilet for the drivers to use.

The Loop is quite small, but PCC-style streetcars didn't need much room to turn around.

Pictures: then (from pittsburghtransit.com) and now; satellite photo (looks like a bus happened to be parked there!)

Emsworth Loop

Drake Loop

Brentwood Loop

Pictures

Muldowney Loop

Pictures

Braddock Avenue (not a Loop)

In Frick Park, follow disgusting Nine Mile Run towards Braddock Avenue; when you emerge from the park, you'll see the tracks. Or take Braddock south from Regent Square and keep an eye out for tracks on your right.

Two pictures

Munhall Loop

Pictures

Directions: Take 61C outbound. The Loop is after the Waterfront, shortly before the Rankin Bridge, on the right. The highway has no shoulder or sidewalks, and there is no bus stop (no marked bus stop, anyway) at the Loop itself, so do not attempt this at night. (It may be possible to more safely approach the Loop by getting off after it (at the Rankin Bridge), rather than before it.) Instead of the standard restroom-shack, there is a large utility (gas?) building.

Lincoln Loop

Pictures imminent

Fleming Park Loop

If you have comments and/or information on Pittsburgh-area streetcar loops, please send me mail.

All pictures Copyright 2002 Margaret DeLap and Joshua Dunfield