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

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	We weren't talking pat - we were talking PRCo.  And there are those of
us who like to know the details of how these things operated.  Bob
Dietrich is in the process of building an "HO" module of South Hills
Jct. in the 1950s and he might like to incorporate this information into
his module.  I hope to do the same in "O" some day and it would be nice
to have to model work ala the prototype.
	That is why this information matters <VVVBBBGGGGG!> and Dr. John
started us down a very good path with information about operation of the
derail that he could recall!
	THANKS  --  JOHN!!!

Fred Schneider wrote:
> 
> 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  All of this is obsolete material!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
> To e-mail *off-list,* please click here:
> mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
> N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190;
> http://www.mcs.net:80/~weyand/nmra/

James B. Holland
------- -- ---------
        Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
    To e-mail *off-list,* please click here: mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.mcs.net:80/~weyand/nmra/