SHJ Interlocking Tower

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	The 1994 PTM calendar cover shows a DE-low-floor car on 48-Arlington
entering the tunnel and a SE-low-floor on the 44-Knoxville exiting the
tunnel with a clear view of the double-story interlocking tower in the
triangle between the two-track wye!  The photo is taken just beside the
Char-Wash-38-39-40-42 track lead into the tunnel.

	Some interesting details are noted here:::::::

	1)--The derail is a single-point RR switch without mate!
	2)--2-aspect signal light beside the derail.
	3)--On the line pole immediately in front of the tower is what
		looks like a small yellow light with DERAIL
		written vertically below it.
	4)--The outbound turnout out of the tunnel appears to be
		a railroad switch - ala the turnouts for the sidings
		on the interurbans.
	5)--Piping from the tower lever throw for above mentioned
		turnout is clearly visible!
	6)--The tower controls five turnouts:
		a)--Outbound out of tunnel
		b)--Derail for 44-48
		c)--Derail for Interurbans-38-39-40-42
		d)--Turnout from Interurbans-38-39-40-42 to 44-48.
		e)--Turnout from 44-48 to track behind Admin bldg.

	The photo must be pre-1939 when this junction was converted to
automatic interlocking.  ALL the above would be changed:::::::

	1)--Derail changed from one RR point to standard street-type
		point and mate.
	2)--2-aspect signal light beside derail becomes 3-aspect.
	3)--The DERAIL sign with yellow light is removed.
	4)--The outbound turnout out of the tunnel is changed from
		an RR switch to standard point and mate type.
	5)--Piping to throw the switch from the tower is removed.
	6)--ALL the switches controlled by the tower converted to
		electric switch operated by trolley contactor.

	And of course, the tower itself was removed!

James B. Holland
------- -- ---------
        Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
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N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.mcs.net:80/~weyand/nmra/