[PRCo] Re: PRCo Charleroi CH track

Wed Dec 28 14:17:03 EST 2011

This insurance map predates the single-end cars (1910) for which the loop
would have been required.  It may have taken a couple years for the map to
get updated.

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org] On Behalf Of Phillip
Clark Campbell
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 2:00 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PRCo Charleroi CH track

My apologies, Mr.Lybarger.  I had trouble getting it to upload but thought
it was successful.  Here is another try.

Phil

________________________________
 From: Edward H. Lybarger <trams2 at comcast.net>
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 1:20 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PRCo Charleroi CH track

I didn't find an attachment.

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementix.org] On Behalf Of Phillip
Clark Campbell
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 1:09 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PRCo Charleroi CH track

Attached is an earlier scan of the Charleroi Car House.
One track is shown entering from the south to the first track.
When rebuilt this track led to the 2nd-track and a loop formed from
southbound into left turn along 11th to the furthest track east outside was
installed.  A total of 9-tracks in both drawings remain.

The date on the map from Mr.Lybarger is 1922; I don't see a date on this one
but 'Pittsburg' still uses the old spelling.

I haven't found a date as to when the Car House was first used as a siding;
the other siding is so close.  I would 'guess' that this began after
West-side lines ended or those cars would have to pass through the Car House
as well.

Additionally, pictures show a lack of contactors in the overhead for nachod
signals between the Car House and the next northerly siding suggesting this
was operated by both schedule and line of sight.
Interurbans were every 30-min each direction; Donora locals would only use
the track for barn access when the day begins and ends.
Service is hardly intense; rare work-cars, cut-outs, the occasional charter
or Charleroi-Roscoe local service are the only additions to equipment
passing through here.

Does anyone have information on the frequency of Charleroi-Roscoe service?
Rush hours only?

Phil

________________________________
From: Phillip Clark Campbell <pcc_sr at yahoo.com>
To: "pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org" <pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 10:38 AM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PRCo Charleroi CH track

I am not sure I understand your observations.  These tracks appear in maps
and many photos don't they.  The photographer is facing south.  Donora
locals leave and return to the yard using this track.  As the Car House was
used as 'part' of a siding the northbound interurban left the Car House to
continue its trip to Pittsburgh using these tracks.

The gantlet overhead is only at the barn for shop usage as shown by the
enclosed photo.  The dual contactors in the other wire reveal the track is
unidirectional for the siding; interurban 1719 turning into the barn is
doing so as part of its revenue run.  There is another photo somewhere
showing a PCC Interurban leaving the yard from the Car House back onto the
main using these very tracks isn't there.

Charleroi housed Interurbans over night so they could go to Roscoe on
pullout.  Those cars pulling in the previous evening  from Roscoe would be
facing north--all interurbans are SE--how did they turn them to be ready for
service going south?  Several ways:  NB car goes straight thru instead of
turning into the yard, throws the point (which may need plugged if it is a
spring return switch to insure it is always set correctly for service,)
place the trolley pole on the gantlet wire, then back around the barn to the
ladder track on the north side of the yard.
There are other more involved ways.

This then begs: how do the interurban cars leave the yard to head south?  'I
am told' with US&S signals a car can use either side of a siding and all
signals shall set correctly. Prc always operates to the right through a
siding--if a car needed to use the left track thru the siding all signals
still set correctly -- all opposing signals go to red as the car enters
single track.  I am not sure iff nachods operate this  way as wiring from
the contactors seem more dedicated.  If the nachods have a parallel
operation to US&S style control then the cars can be parked to leave the
barn on the northbound 'siding' track in the barn.  Otherwise the
interurbans need to back out on the ladder track in the picture you
supplied, then head south making sure the trolley is on the correct wire to
activate the contactors for the nachods.

The Car House was not always used as a siding was it.  One of the tracks on
the south was added for the siding, most likely the curve 1719 is using.
Mr.Phillips sent me drawings of this if I can find them.  I don't remember
the date of the addition.  Otherwise, as Mr.Lybarger indicates, the track
here remained essentially as built.

I would hazard a guess that the siding in the Car House was instituted after
the West-side cars quit  service.

Phil

________________________________
From: "Lattner, Raymond" <rlattner at pa.gov>
To: "pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org" <pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 11:25 AM
Subject: [PRCo] PRCo Charleroi CH track

Hello, I was reviewing the latest  Charleroi PRCoTPTrackMaps and noticed
there was no mention of any tracks at the front end of the Charleroi Car
House that lead to the left (see attached pic) as you are looking at the CH.
Any idea about this track or
tracks?
http://lists.dementix.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/wvp331.jpg

Regards

Ray

http://lists.dementix.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/1719-CCH.jpg

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