Derail Operation -- *Pittsburgh Traction* Video shows this nicely!

[Fred Schneider]

So what does it matter.  When the Port Authority took over, the laws of
physics changed.  Derails are no longer needed because cars cannot possibly
run away on a 6 percent grade.  All of this is obsolete material!
(Cynicism comes with old age.)

		-----Original Message-----
		From:	Jim Holland [mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net]
		Sent:	Friday, February 25, 2000 6:43 AM
		To:	PRCo -- WP -- JTC -- The Big *3*
		Subject:	Derail  Operation  --  *Pittsburgh
Traction*  Video  shows  this nicely!

		Greetings!

		On 1999.12.16 at 09.31 AM Eastern time, John Swindler
said:::::::

		> As for derail signal, center was red, but impression is
that upper 
		> signal was white.  Would feel more comfortable if someone
could check
		> an old operator's manual rather then trying to rely on
memory from
		> 30+ years ago.

			The video shows two different cars going thru the
derail within about 5
		minutes of each other.
			The center light appears red.  It appears as though
once the car has
		passed thru the switch contactor while the motorman was
depressing the
		track switch toggle, the red light remains on while the
light below it
		comes on.  Colors are not easily discernible on video unless
head-on and
		this is somewhat from the side, but the intensity of the
bottom light is
		quite strong and appears white.
			John had previously indicated that there was a time
delay before the
		switch set.  Within several seconds, both the red and white
light go out
		and the top light comes on; this top light *might* be green.
			As soon as the front truck is on top of the derail,
the top light goes
		out and the red light comes back on.  When the trolley pole
passes the
		contactor on the far side of the derail, the derail sets
again for the
		*turnout-to-nowhere* - ie, derail!

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