Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRC) was originally chartered in 1900 as the Southern Traction Company. By 1902, the PRC became the operating manager of 193 street railways properties owned or controlled by the Philadelphia Company, Consolidated Traction, United Traction and Southern Traction. The latter three companies were merged to form Pittsburgh Railways. Although beset by continuing financial problems and declining ridership during the depression years, in 1936 and 1937 Pittsburgh Railways placed into service the first 100 Presidents' Conference Cars (PCC) trolleys. By 1949, a total of 666 PCC cars had been purchased. With post-World War II escalation of automobile production, highway construction and suburban growth, transit service, ridership and revenue plummeted at a more rapid rate. In addition, during the 1950s, service was disrupted three times by major labor strikes for prolonged periods, once for nearly two months. The company was reorganized in 1951 but continued on a course of self-liquidation. During the 1950s, 16 other independent lines operated buses into downtown Pittsburgh and 21 others provided service to suburban areas. The Pittsburgh Railways Company operated Pittsburgh's vast electric trolley network until 1964, when the Port Authority of Allegheny County used its power of eminent domain for the first time and assumed control. The railways were now operated as Port Authority Transit, or PAT. In 1967, the remaining companies of the PRC were combined into the Pittway Company.
From the description of Pittsburgh Railways Company records, 1872-1974. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 30497087
