[PRCo] Re: Junction question.

[Jim Holland]

> Dietrich, Robert J. wrote:

> Folks:

> How was routing controlled through the Junction?  I know the switch towers
> were there until 1939 when the interlocking was established.  Did the switch
> tower operator route the outbound cars or did the motorman use the
> power-on/power-off method.

Robert:::::	Didn't you spot piping from the tower to that outbound
turnout in that classic PTM calendar photo of 2-low-floors here?  Seem
to recall that without checking the actual photo.
	In PCC days, the operators controlled all the turnouts.  In fact, it
was probably much earlier than that  --  remember the article on
interlocking on your website?  Operator control of turnouts might have
been instituted at that time as well.  If I remember the article, the
tower man would throw the turnout for one direction and leave it there
in spite of cars from another direction piling up.  The interlocking
prevented this and allowed cars to pass in the order they arrived.

	Mentioned this before - super busy area with 9++lines using this
junction on a regular basis and the   O--N--L--Y   interlocking was at
the mouth of the tunnel!  Have a video of cars making the loop, going
outbound on the interurban, into the yard, out on the 42, etc., etc.,
etc. one right after the other  --  all this without interlocking! 
Absolutely amazing it worked so well!!

> What went on in that second floor bay window area?  Maybe I should rephrase,
> what was supposed to go on there?

-- 
James B. Holland
        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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