Does anyone have information on when the Montour RR quit? A date for ceasing operations? Date abandoned? I seem to recall it was circa 1984-1985? I've been looking in my Railfan & Railroad magazine collection. Thought there was an article? Boxcab E50
At its peak in the early 1930s, the Montour served 27 mines and carried almost seven million tons of coal annually. Other freight was virtually incidental, and passenger service was abandoned in the 1920s. By mid-century both the demand for coal was decreasing and local mines were closing, and in 1946 the Montour RR was sold jointly to the Pennsylvania RR and the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie RR. The P&LE acquired sole ownership in 1975. Costs continued to rise and revenues to decrease. The segment from Bethel Park to West Mifflin had already been abandoned, service between Venice and Library ceased in 1975, and the Montour RR ceased operation entirely in 1984. Source: http://www.montourtrail.org/news/histrr.html
