South Hills Junction

[Dietrich, Robert J.]

Folks:

Bob apologizes:
I apologize for running the comments together on my last message.  My mail
editor 
indents things very nicely, but by the time it came back everything was run
together.  

>>Jim said:
	I have maps from several different sources and one, purportedly
around
1950, was not 1950 for I know for sure the track alignment had changed
by then.  It was very difficult to see anything on the map because of
all the noise in copying.  So I did not refer to it directly when making
comments.  You jogged my memory that I had other maps, so I searched
thru my files and found a map that must be identical to yours and it
raises even  m-o-r-e  questions concerning routing and the pull-in or
pull-out cars!  Actually, the map purported to be 1950 is the same as
1927 with a loop around the admin building and the connection to
Warrington at Boggs gone - and that isn't right - there were
considerable changes to the r-o-w of the routes thru the yard.

Bob said:

I don't have the maps you speak of, only the one on my web site --
http://www.voicenet.com/~dietrich/SHJ/shjtrack.htm.   Ed Lybarger sent me a
photocopy of a portion of a map from, I believe, the mid '30s.  I cleaned it
up but I did not alter the track plan.  

>From your comments and pictures I've seen I believe this map is all wrong.
This map shows the turnouts for the 38-39-40-42 from the interurban track
down past the shelter.  Pictures show they should be near those stairs,
where the turnout for the single line to 40 is.  One picture shows it to be
about one car length (3800 car) from the turnout to the loop.  

Speaking of the loop, my pictures show very little distance, about a half
car length, between the two turnouts on the 44-48 side.  This would make the
loop closer to the Admin building and/or a larger radius curve.  It also
begs the question; is the single track behind the Admin building in proper
alignment on my map?

Comments please from folks with maps.

>>  Don said:
	As you mention, the loop around the admin building is not present
but
the admin building is in the center of a triangle formed by the rail
lines you mention - a triangle with curved sides.  In the 1927 map, the
single track that runs behind the admin building is from the 
i-n-b-o-u-n-d  38-39-40-42 to the outbound 44-48 o-n-l-y.  

Bob Asks:

Is it possible that this was all configured for Double End cars?  Since the
Interurbans were housed at Castle Shannon they would only pass through.  You
are questioning the omission of crossovers in the available maps.  Could it
be that some more crossovers existed and they didn't need to turn cars at he
junction/car house, just get them onto the proper track?

>>Jim Stated:
	5-- When did the Barn at Castle Shannon close - late 20s, early 30s?

(I think this information is in the *ERA Headlights* of 1952 - the
special on PRCo interurbans - but I can't find it at the moment.)  The
interurbans were then shifted to South Hills and this only compounds the
logistics of getting cars into and out of the barn.


Bob found:
The 1952 headlights stated that the CS car barn closed June 20, 1932.

>> Jim Said:

	6-- That weird track from the outbound 40 line is shown to connect
to
the mainline well south of where the interurbans branch off suggesting
that this is also south of the restaurant.  But a turnout exists from
the outbound mainline well north of where the interurban branches off
and the rails for this track run mysteriously parallel to the track it
branches from for quite some distance as evidenced in the photo PI-0303
from Harold A. Smith.  This particular track will probably remain a
mystery!

Bob said:

I have one picture on my web site that has this track, I can see it on the
original but it may not be visible on your browser --
http://www.voicenet.com/~dietrich/SHJ/bv6.htm.  If you save the picture then
open it in a graphics editor you may be able to see the track and get a
better idea if its alignment.

Don offered:

To post a jpg of one of his maps. 

Bob says:

 I would really like to see it.  I know you sent it once before but I can't
locate it, I fear it go lost in my last mail outage.


Thanks for the information.

Bob Dietrich
Member East Penn Traction Club (EPTC).  They started me building trolley
modules then keep me from it helping to run the club.