[PRCo] Re: Stumped -- Nachods

Sun Dec 23 08:11:56 EST 2007

There is a contactor on each of the line to the carbarn and the  
Jefferson Avenue stub, which should count a car out of the block.    
And I see an inbound contactor on the inbound side.   I also see a  
switch contactor coming northwest.  But I see a second contactor  
inbound to Washington and that puzzles me.

fws

On Dec 22, 2007, at 9:34 PM, Herb Brannon wrote:

> Did anyone ever come up with the "method of operation" in this  
> area? I marked the original email from Jim Holland as "unread".  
> That means it still needed a proper answer. Again, did anyone  
> figure it out?
> Jim Holland <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com> wrote:  THANK___YOU,___Herb!!!
> .
> NOT___At__All__Wordy!!!
> .
> Very nice and clear explanation -- PerFessor~!~!~!~!
> .
> .
> I am very well understand how it works now.
> .
> .
> .
> Now I am trying to finger out how the Nachods worked in Little Wash  
> near
> the terminal for the local Jefferson//Maiden line shared by the
> Interurban entering and leaving Wash -- here are a few previous  
> scans:::
> .
> http://tinyurl.com/27zkk6
> .
> http://tinyurl.com/2bdc3w
> .
> I am including another photo of 4354 in the terminal as well as map
> below to show configuration of the sidings and single track:
> .
> Starting at the Tylerdale Car Barn we see it is also a siding --
> ....... heading south from there brings us to the stub terminal of the
> local Jefferson//Maiden Line beyond which...
> .
> ....... we have about 10-20-feets of single track and then a long  
> siding.
> .
> In the enclosed photo of 4354, please note that there are two  
> contactors
> in the overhead Of The Stub Track Terminal -- presumably the one
> closest to the overhead frog is for clearing the block but the one
> further back is in front of the rear trolley pole for when the local
> pulls out onto the main. But Also Note that there is a contactor in
> the main just north of the switch for the stub AND one of the photos
> included shows two contactors as a southbound car enters the siding  
> just
> south of the stub terminal.
> .
> I am sure it is quite logical once it is fingered oooot -- but getting
> to that point is a challenge now.
> .
> As far as a local pulling away from the terminal southbound I am sure
> that is accomplished by eye, not signal, but a following Interurban  
> from
> Tylerdale should know that something is ahead of it. I can see a
> contactor to enter the single track from the siding heading north
> (which is immediately cleared when a local enters the stub terminal)
> but why does the interurban have a contactor in the same location  
> on the
> main line?? I don't see a switch pan for the stub so assume that
> this is manually operated and that a local should return it to the  
> main
> line when it leaves.
> .
> .
> Your thoughts, Herb, will be welcome~!~!~!
> .
> .
> .
> Jim___Holland
> .
> .
> .
> Herb Brannon wrote:
> .
>> The signals at each end of the single track have two positions,  
>> red and yellow. These signals indicate the status of the single  
>> track block. There is also a small yellow indicator signal about a  
>> car length from the two position signal. This signal "blinks" each  
>> time a car enters the single track. The "blink" is displayed at  
>> both ends of the single track block.
>>
>> When coming off the double track into the single track an operator  
>> will know the situation on that section of single track by  
>> observing the first, or the two position signal. If it is dark  
>> then the single track in not occupied by either leading or  
>> opposing cars. In fact, both the two position signals at either  
>> entrance to single track will be dark. If the two position signal  
>> is showing yellow this indicates one or more Leading cars are in  
>> the single track. If the two position signal shows red this  
>> indicates one or more Opposing cars are in the single track.
>>
>> The Preliminary Contactor actually sets the signals for that  
>> particular single track block into motion. If a dark signal is  
>> noted an operator knows to pass under the Preliminary Contactor  
>> and proceed to the Counting-In Contactor. If a red signal is noted  
>> then an operator knows to pass under the Preliminary Contactor (to  
>> get his car "noted" in the block) but to then stop short of the  
>> Countng-In Contactor. If a yellow signal is noted an operator  
>> knows to pass under the Preliminary Contactor and also pass under  
>> the Counting-In Contactor, entering the single track, however, to  
>> run the car under caution as there are one or more Leading cars in  
>> the single track. These leading cars may be stopped for any number  
>> of reasons and there is no signal protection.
>>
>> Operators, myself also, who approached a dark signal but then had  
>> it turn red before passing under the Preliminary Contactor then  
>> knew that one or more opposing cars were coming down the single.  
>> By watching the small yellow "Counting-In Signal" located just  
>> where the double track ends and by counting the number of "blinks"  
>> could (with knowledge of the running time in that single track  
>> section) estimate how much time would be required to clear the  
>> single track for them to move forward.
>>
>> That, Professor Holland, is the very wordy explanation of how that  
>> Machine Age system works. Hopefully I did not leave anything out.
>>
>>
>> Jim Holland
> wrote:
>> Thanks Herb!
>>
>> What happened after passing the first Preliminary Contactor?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Herb Brannon wrote:
>>
>>
>>>> From the Signal Manual (1973 PATransit edition -- same as PRCo  
>>>> except for signal drawings rather than photos) :
>>>
>>> "At each end of the single track three contactors are installed  
>>> on the trolley wire for the actuation of the signals as follows:
>>>
>>> (a) Two contactors are mounted on the trolley wire over the track  
>>> by which cars enter the single track block. The first of theses  
>>> contactors engaged as the car approaches single track is known as  
>>> the Preliminary Contactor, and the second one, which is mounted  
>>> about a car length beyond the first, is known as the Counting-In  
>>> Contactor.
>>>
>>> (b) One contactor is mounted on the trolley wire over the track  
>>> by which cars leave the single track block and it is known as the  
>>> Counting-Out Contactor."
>>>
>>
>>
>> Herb Brannon
>>
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> Tylerdale-to-Wylie_1950.gif
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> Herb Brannon
>
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