[PRCo] Re: Why a Wye?

[Jim Holland]

This   IS   correct,  John!       Just as some Library // Drake cars 
took the crossover and back track of the CS loop to get to the 38A to 38 
to return to the barn, some of the CS local cars were supposed to back 
from the CS Admin loop to the 38A loop and then on to 38    ----    yes, 
to alleviate congestion on Overbrook sidings!
.
That story I related about Interurban Operator Charlie Diehl comes to 
mind.       Charlie was heading back to the barn one winter evening 
after a Library tripper and noticed the roof light of a Drake car 
heading to Wash Jct.       He wanted to get ahead of him because he 
dragged the line back to the barn.       Twasn't the same operator and 
he apparently saw our light and had the same intent    ----    we nearly 
had a collision at Wash Jct.!!!       Then at CS Admin Loop the 37 
pulled ahead of us and Charlie said he was supposed to back onto the 
38A  (apparently when his 37 follower arrived to help him back, but he  
Didn't  Not  Wait!!)       We couldn't keep up with the 37 and we 
couldn't escape the Drake behind us who Consistently Ran The Red Boards 
and was in the same block as us!!!
.
.
.
JJ
.
.
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John Swindler wrote:

>
> I have a memory of 37 car using loop at Castle Shannon, then backing 
> onto 38A loop to return inbound via 42/38. Trouble is, memory not good 
> enough to recall if happened on more then one occasion, or if this was 
> just a recollection from a fantrip. Don't think it was a fantrip, but 
> maybe..... Could this have been a way to reduce number of rush hour 
> trippers using passing sidings on Overbrook?? Help????
>
> John
>
>
>> From: Jim Holland <prcopcc at p-r-co.com>
>> Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Why a Wye?
>> Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2006 23:55:30 -0800
>>
>> Jim Holland wrote:
>> .
>>
>>> Freight! Wye is a turnaround but in case of Donora it was for freight.
>>> .
>>> Space limitations -- couldn't make a loop in location of 42-Dormont wye.
>>
>> .
>> Motormen backed up line of sight with people walking the tracks 
>> behind ---- don't 'know' of any conflicts here -- with people. 
>> Sometimes motormen didn't pull up far enough to clear the overhead 
>> directional frog and the pole backed up on the wire it entered the 
>> wye which means it eventually wound up stuck in the spans!!!
>> .
>> .
>>
>>> 87-Ardmore had a wye briefly but upgraded to loop in different location.
>>> .
>>> Riverview combination of wye // loop ---- wye portion of loop added 
>>> in 1922 so northbound Interurbans to Pgh. shared southbound 
>>> Charleroi / Donora trackage near loop until last leg built to form wye.
>>
>> .
>> .
>> Wyes in Canonsburg and downtown Washington allowed Interurban 
>> TrolleyCar to layover off-street ---- space saving as well as 
>> available real estate!!!
>> .
>> .
>> The wye on the 2-Etna at Dewey just short of the end of the line is a 
>> stumper -- maybe it was originally the end of the line and the single 
>> track to the loop was added when it became available O-R more likely 
>> when the Butler interurban ceased operation!
>> .
>> Castle Shannon loop around the admin Building was not built until 
>> 1948 ---- before that it had been an elongated wye which was 
>> originally used as PullOut routing for either inbound or outbound 
>> Interurbans when CS was an operating Car House -- it then doubled as 
>> a turning point for cars and was used as such after the Car House was 
>> 'closed.'
>> .
>> There was also a wye on the 94 line that was like Canonsburg -- back 
>> into it and pull out forward.
>> .
>> Abandoned intersections sometimes kept a wye as short turn -- we had 
>> discussion on this some time back -- one on North Side and one near 
>> Homewood.
>> .
>> Had to check my map for some -- this covers 'most' wyes.
>> .
>> .
>> .
>> JJ
>> .
>> .
>> .
>>
>>> mtoytrain at bellsouth.net wrote:
>>> .
>>>
>>>> Why a wye? Yes one in Donora, if Jones low Floor double ended cars 
>>>> were used, why the wye, a freight station? a turn around? Other 
>>>> areas of Pittsburgh Railways had wyes so why the wyes?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Merry Christmas to all !
>>>> Jerry Matsick
>>>