IN Monroeville Spring 2014 | Page 34

IN THE KNOW DID YOU KNOW? Pitcairn’s History is Crisscrossed with Railroad Tracks P itcairn’s history has been entwined with the railroad since its inception. In 1880, tracks were laid along Turtle Creek, and in 1894, the town that sprang up around it was named Pitcairn. In its heyday, nearly 200 engines were serviced daily at the massive rail yard in Pitcairn, which at the time, was the largest in the world. The noise must have seemed deafening for visitors, but residents quickly grew used to the sound of the steam engines, intermingled with clanging and noises from braking trains. Virtually every type of rail travel and service was offered at the yard. Pitcairn also figured prominently in the war effort in World War II as troops and supplies were transported daily through Pitcairn on their way to vital missions. In 1996, the site officially became the Conrail Pittsburgh Intermodal Facility, and later the Norfolk Southern’s hub for intermodal transit in western Pennsylvania. Though it’s no longer the center of passenger travel, it’s still a busy hub of rail travel, with more than 100 trains passing over its tracks each day. ■ Sources of information: Borough of Pitcairn website and Railroad Days by Louis Chandler which can be found at Pitcairn-Historical.webs.com Did You Know? We are looking for little-known facts, history or other interesting stories about your community. Please send your ideas to [email protected]. 32 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Monroeville