[PRCo] Re: Fw: "Derail" at Mt. Washington Tunnel

[Bob Dietrich]

The derail was a single RR point with a short piece of track, about 6', and
an H beam buried at the end of it.  The left rail was T rail with a concrete
base at about flange level.  If the point was thrown to derail the car would
be slammed into the H beam and, hopefully, stop.

Installed around 1910 they were, as you stated, operated from the
switchman's cabin - http://mywebpages.comcast.net/bdietrich/derail1910.htm
(scroll down).  When the interlock was installed in 1939 the operation of
the derails were automated -
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/bdietrich/interloc.htm.  The derail was
normally thrown to the derail position.  If a car went through the short
controlled zone too fast then the derail was not thrown to proceed and the
car did not proceed into the tunnel.  The rule probably was that the car had
to stop for the red signal to clear and the derail to be thrown.

I'll bring my tape of this operation to the get-together in November.

Bob   



----- Forwarded Message ----

From: Phillip Clark Campbell <pcc_sr at yahoo.com>

To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org

Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 8:34:30 PM

Subject: Re: "Derail" at Mt. Washington Tunnel





The derails at the junction were originally RR points weren't they

 which literally put the car on the ground and they were operated by  the

 tower, not the approaching trolley.  This derail could only catch  runaway

 cars possibly unattended when a relief is made; this derail would not

 catch a vehicle with slack brakes.  Look very closely in this photo

  http://www.davesrailpix.com/pitts/htm/pitt605..htm  and you can see  the

 derail among the weeds.





Phil







----- Original Message ----

From: Jim Holland <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com>

To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org

Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 1:49:45 PM

Subject: [PRCo] Re: "Derail" at Mt. Washington Tunnel





There was also a Derail at Palm Garden on the southbound storage track 

which led to the 42-main  --  RR type switch  --





Jim









Jim Holland wrote:

> Bill Vigrass photo at Dave's.

>

>

>> On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:46:45 -0700 (PDT), Herb Brannon wrote

>>  

>>> The link seems to be no photo and all code. Will try it again 

>>> tomorrow. Have to get to sleep now. Work tomorrow. Herb Brannon 

>>> <hrbran at sbcglobal.net> wrote:  Note: forwarded message attached.

>>>

>>> Herb Brannon

>>>

>>>



http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/derail.jpg







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