Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Reports, Volume 36

The railroad of West Side Belt Railroad Company, herein called the West Side Belt, is a single-track, standard-gage, steam railroad, situated within the State of Pennsylvania, extending from West End, Pittsburgh, to Clairton, with a branch from south of West End, Pittsburgh, to Banksville, an aggregate distance of 22.709 miles. The West Side Belt also owns 25.795 miles of yard tracks and sidings, or a total of 48.504 miles of all tracks. It reaches Pittsburgh and points in Clairton by means of trackage agreements with other carriers. Its property is operated by The Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway Company as agent.

The West Side Belt has connections with other carriers for interchange of traffic, as follows:

The region traversed by this road is very hilly. The soil is clay overlying limestone, shale, and sandstone.

The principal products of this region are those of coal mines and steel industries.

The grading is heavy, averaging about 84,000 cubic yards per mile, of which about 12 per cent is loose rock and about 38 per cent is solid rock. There is one single-track, driven tunnel 431 feet long and lined with brick. The tracks are laid principally with new 90 and 80 pound Bessemer rail. There is some relay 80-pound rail. The road is ballasted with broken rock, slag, and cinders.

The West Side Belt is a corporation of the State of Pennsylvania, having its principal office at Pittsburgh, Pa. It is controlled by the Pittsburgh Terminal Railroad & Coal Company through ownership of a majority of its capital stock, while a majority of the capital stock of the latter company is owned by The Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway Company. On the other hand, the records do not indicate that this company controls any common-carrier corporation. The property of this company was operated by its own organization from July 1, 1897, to July 1, 1904, and by The Wabash Pittsburgh Terminal Railway Company, as agent, from the latter date to June 22, 1908, when a receiver was ap- pointed who operated the property until April 1, 1917. From the latter date to date of valuation it has been operated by the Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway Company, as agent.

The West Side Belt was incorporated July 25, 1895, under the general laws of the State of Pennsylvania, for the purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining a railroad beginning at a point at or near the confluence of the Little Saw Mill Run and the Big Saw Mill Run, streams in Allegheny County, Pa., and extending to near Monongahela City, on the Monongahela River in Washington County, Pa. Pursuant to the above purpose, the West Side Belt acquired by an agreement of merger and consolidation, dated June 25, 1897, and filed for record July 3, 1897, the property, rights, and franchises of The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad Company. It also acquired on May 23, 1902, by an agreement of merger and consolidation, the rights and franchises of the Bruce and Clairton Railroad Company. The West Side Belt itself and those two corporations named above comprise the line of corporate succession culminating in the West Side Belt as at present constituted. The following chart shows the names of the corporations and respective dates of incorporation. Reference to each of these corporations is made in the last column by its respective number shown in the first column.

The owned mileage of the West Side Belt, amounting to 22.709 miles, was acquired partly by merger and partly by construction as detailed in the statement below. Of the two corporations that comprise the line of succession culminating in the West Side Belt as at present constituted, one corporation, the Bruce and Clairton Railroad Company, did not construct any road or other common-carrier property. The property constructed by The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad Company and the West Side Belt itself, the years when the various portions of the line were constructed, and the manner in which the West Side Belt acquired the property, are indicated in the following table:

• Acquired by merger, from The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad Company July 3, 1897, constructed by The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad Company from Banksville to Pittsburgh, Pa., during 1850 to 1853, 3.00 miles.
• Acquired by construction, from Banksville Junction to beyond Clairton during 1897 to 1903, 19.46 miles.
• Plus, difference between total recorded mileage and mileage inventoried as of date of valuation, 0.249 mile.

Mileage inventoried as of date of valuation, 22.709 miles.

The West Side Belt uses on date of valuation facilities owned by other companies to the extent indicated in the statement below. The description of the property, the terms of use, and the rentals accrued and charged to income for the year ending on date of valuation, are as follows:

• Jointly used, but not owned, owned by—
  • The Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway Company, tracks, 1.30 miles, for entering Pittsburgh, Pa., rental $900 per annum, $900.00 rental.
  • St. Clair Terminal Railroad Company, 0.39 mile of track at Clairton, Pa., rental $8,440.64 per annum, $8,440.64 rental.

Introductory

The accounting records of The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad Company are either incomplete or missing for the period prior to July 27, 1860. For that reason only partial information can be given from its accounts regarding its financial dealings, corporate operations, or investments. The records reviewed indicate that The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad Company was controlled on July 3, 1897, the date of its demise, by individuals who controlled the West Side Belt. On the other hand, the records do not indicate that the company controlled on that date any common-carrier corporation.

The property of this company was operated by its own organization from the date opened for operation, August 26, 1853, to the date of its demise, July 3, 1897. The railroad operated by this company on the date of its demise amounted to 3 miles, all owned. It consisted of a single-track, standard-gage, steam railroad, wholly within the State of Pennsylvania and extending from Pittsburgh to coal mines at Banksville, Pa.

Development of Fixed Physical Property

The entire 3 miles of road owned by the company on the date of its demise had been acquired by construction. The line as first constructed was a narrow-gage road, which was built under contract during the years 1850 to 1853. It was subsequently changed to a standard-gage railroad. The road was operated chiefly to serve coal mines owned by the company.

The records reviewed indicate that this company, on May 23, 1902, the date of its demise, was controlled by individuals who controlled the West Side Belt. On the other hand, the records do not indicate that the company controlled any common-carrier corporation. This company, other than acquiring some right of way and grade, did not construct or acquire any road or other common-carrier property. Its rights, franchises, and property were merged with the West Side Belt as of May 23, 1902. [...]