[milwaukee-electric] Re: Milwaukee slums during the 1940s and afterward

[Don L. Leistikow]

Gary S and list:   You've a lot of catching up to do.   Books and
magizine articles have explained the mechanics of TMER&L's Rapid Transit
Lines.                 

Briefly, Tackage Rights were held by schedules.  Any crew retained those
Rights for up to, five minutes later than the scheduled time.  Being
later than that, required the crew to 'phone-in', on Company private
phone lines. strung along the tracks.  All other (Extra) trains, were
required to obtain 'Train Orders' from the Dispatcher, located in the
PSB Terminal in Milwaukee.                             

Early On.....  The then popular Nachod Signal Company of Louisville, set
up their White and Red illuminated signals, to provide additional
protection on single track lines.  These were not Block Signals but,
were Permissive or Stop signal aspects.                                                    

This system was in place between passing sidings, which were 'Home Free'
spaces.  Company phones were installed at each and every, Siding.  For
the record, these Nachod Signals could hold 12 counts meaning.... that
following cars could enter a WHITE permissinve signal block by counting
in... and then as each car was counted out at the next Siding,  no cars
waiting in said Siding, could enter in the opposiite direction, until
all opposing counts were satisfied.                            

When no cars were in the single track block, the Nachod Signals were
DARK, at both ends.                                                

Such, was the setting, on the day of teh most horrible accident.
Neither train saw the other as they met on a reverse and elevated curve,
centered on National Avenue, former STH 15.                            

As that date was my day off, 9/2/50... I hurried out there to observe
the situation.  From the Greenfield Avenue bridge over the mainline
double tracks, I could see the first Nachod Signal, just past the West
Junction landing, where the single track HC line began.  It was WHITE.
That meant that the companion opposing signal at Oklahoma Siding.... was
RED.                  

After the accident was cleaned up, various persons of knowledge were on
hand to test the Nachod Signals.  They were found to be.... in perfect
working order.      

Not generally known, is that when a car enters a RED Nachod Block... a
count must be entered.  Physically, the RED aspect will drop out, a
WHITE aspect will appear as the count was recorded.  Then the WHITE
aspect will drop out and the former RED aspect... will return.               

Testimony in Court, substanciated a WHITE aspect was observed.  True,
but that WHITE did not stay lit. It dropped out. 

Speedrail, did have insurance, expensive, as it was.                                                  

Don L. Leistikow, Speedrail Badge 9