[PRCo] Re: Stumped -- Nachods

Sun Dec 23 12:34:25 EST 2007

The detailed Washington track map is in the material from the November
get-together, I think.  I don't have any signal circuit drawings for the
Nachods, though. 

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Herb
Brannon
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 11:44 AM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Stumped -- Nachods

Are there any really "detailed" track maps, or better yet, signal circuit
maps available which show this area?
"Edward H. Lybarger" <trams2 at comcast.net> wrote:   There was a passing
siding just outbound of the Tylerdale (Jefferson Avenue)
stub siding, on the bridge over the PRR. Perhaps that was involved in the
second contactor?

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Fred
Schneider
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 8:12 AM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Cc: Fred Schneider
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Stumped -- Nachods

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
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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> -- URL : http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/
> 4354_Jefferson-Terminal.jpg
>
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> Tylerdale-to-Wylie_1950.gif
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Herb Brannon
>
>

Herb Brannon

  TODAY'S "THOUGHT FOR THE DAY"

  "When fascism comes to the United States, it will be wraped in the flag
and carrying the cross of Jesus Christ". 
  Ron Paul, Republican candidate for President, November, 2007