West Penn Turnouts

[Fred W. Schneider III]

I've not seen any pictures of switch machines on the ground at t-rail
junctions such as Hecla or Brownsville.  I cannot find wire contactors
at Connellsville in any pictures but that isn't to say that some of the
toggle switches in front of the dispatcher did not handle that
function.  I think we've got to do a magnifying glass search of
pictures?????  

"Edward H. Lybarger" wrote:
> 
> Did I ever answer this?  Yes, they used electric switches at the terminals
> and, I presume, at main junctions (though photos at Brownsville Jct. are
> inconclusive because nobody photographed this element).
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> [mailto:owner-pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org]On Behalf Of Jim Holland
> Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2000 7:17 PM
> To: PRCo -- WP -- JTC -- The Big *3* --
> Subject: West Penn Turnouts
> 
> Greetings!
> 
>         Did the WP use any electric switches?  I don't see any evidence of such
> in photos.  I am presently looking at the bottom photo on pg.9 of
> *PA-Trolleys-In-Color--Pgh.-Region*  This is a 3-way turnout but because
> the angle is low the trolleywire behind the car cannot be seen clearly.
> 
>         What about at *terminals* like in Uniontown and Connellsville where
> there are several turnouts into and out of the terminal loops?  Were
> these turnouts centrally controlled by the local dispatcher or did the
> motormen set them themselves by hand?
> 
>         In the photo on pg.14 of the same book (above), the top photo shows the
> Greensburg terminal and what *might* be a switch contactor just ahead of
> 287.
> 
> James B. Holland
> 
>         Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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