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

[Gary Schnabl]

On 11/8/2010 11:07 PM, Don L. Leistikow wrote:
> 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
Regarding the accident: How come the engineer/motorman blew the block 
signal(s)? Was there just one signal that was blown that day?

One would think that the motorman would be even more careful than usual 
when the owner was present. Or was the owner merely another distraction 
up front?
-- 

Gary Schnabl
Southwest Detroit, two miles NORTH! of Canada--Windsor, that is...