The following series of posts outline detail on three CD 133.4 Wormser Style insulators (green, sky blue and SCA) which came from Southwestern Pennsylvania. The second post is on a sky blue CD 133.4 which was acquired in 1979 from a local antique shop located near Brownsville, PA. This shop had one sky blue CD 133.4 for sale. Since this insulator was in better condition than the one I already had, the newer one was added to my collection and the earlier near mint item was used for trades. Specific details on the sky Blue CD 133.4 are as follows:

CD-133.4 No Embossing - 3 Piece Mold - Crude Sky Blue - Measurements - 70mm Wide x 97 mm High.

I asked the owner if he knew where this CD 133.4 was found. He said he did not know the origin of this insulator. However, the Monongahela Railway ran through Brownsville, PA and went Southwest from Fayette County, PA, looped through Greene County and reconnected near Brownsville. I'll attach a route map [id=610116399]. The Monongahela RR is a joint venture between the Pennsylvania RR and Lake Erie RR and ran from about 1900 to 1993 when Consolidated Rail Corporation (CONRAIL) became the owner. CONRAIL was bought in 1998 by Norfolk Southern and CSX. In the early 1880's and through the 1890's Brownsville was served by the Pittsburgh, Westmoreland and Somerset RR (part of the Pennsylvania RR system) and by the Baltimore & Ohio RR (B&O). At that time, these railroad systems did not connect into Greene County, PA. I'll attach route maps through Fayette County [id=610116875] and a map of the route system coming out of Pittsburgh [id=610117113].

Knowing that the CD 133.4 Wormser style was likely made in the late 1870's to mid 1880's, I would speculate that these insulators most likely were used on the Waynesburg and Washington RR. Other information or speculation from ICON members would be most welcome.

Note: I received the following e-Mail from ICON member Matt Kancle with some good information that I found very educating.

I have been enjoying the variety of insulators you have found in Pennsylvania! The unembossed CD 133.4's were used on an overland telephone (former telegraph?) lead that ran along Route 21 in the Waynesburg area. I found a large chunk of one near the Scott covered bridge 15 years ago. I remember talking to the Plunketts about this line and they said they knew of a lineman many years ago who worked on it and found quite a few wormsers, including an amber one.

Not saying the 133.4's weren't used on the railroad lines around Washington and Waynesburg as I believe it was a very common telegraph insulator 120 years ago. (I found a purple one on the B&O near Confluence, Pa, an aqua one the D&H in New York, and a purple shard along an overland toll line near Kingwood, Wv.)

Take care,

Matt