Wrong Side Points

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	On the cover of the May--June--1986 *ERA Headlights* is a photo of
Smithfield and Carson looking north.  The track connection of the former
32--P&LE Shuttle is clearly visible and both tracks to and from North
Smithfield to West Carson have the points in the outside rail.  With
that connection being used only for pull-out and pull-in cars before
about 1945 (after that the connection to the tunnel was cut in which
eliminated the need for the former) it would make a smoother and quieter
ride for the Char-Wash-Shannon-38-39-40-42-44-48 lines through these
turnouts and probably cut down considerably on maintenance of the
turnout itself.
	But the two turnouts for the 50-line have the points on the inside
rail.
	The loop track around the admin building *might be considered* as
having a combination  --  depending on perspective!!  Entering the loop
from the interurban inbound had the point in the inside rail.  The
*trailing-turnout* onto the 44-48 lines was outside rail
*for-the-loop-track* but inside rail for the 44-48 line.  The turnout
into the loop from the 44-48 lines was inside rail for the 44-48 (from
Railroad Avenue Enterprizes photo #PN-12647 of 5028 inbound on
47-line.)  That makes this an outside point for the loop track except
that the point is probably on a tangent so the direction is actually
straight for a short distance!  The same is probably true for the
trailing turnout at this location - it is on a very short tangent as
well.  The real curve is the 44-48 lines so the point is actually on the
inside rail in both cases.  I believe the trailing turnout behind the
admin building was inside rail point.
	This follows for most of the other turnouts in this area - 40-line
inside-rail points; yard leads and ladder track, inside-rail points;
junction of interurban lines with 38-39-40-42 lines inside-rail points.

James B. Holland
------- -- ---------
        Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
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