Over the last couple of weeks I have taken two trips to the PRR Main Line in Central and Western PA and have also gotten some other NS signaling updates on the Philly to Chicago rail corridor. At this point the Pittsburgh Line re-signaling project has stripped all pneumatic point machines between Harrisburg and Johnstown, with CP-MO and CP-AR/CP-UN having been converted since July.
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| Going, going, gone. |
However from Johnstown westward, interlockings including CP-C, CP-CONPIT, CP-RADE, CP-TRAFF, CP-WING and CP-HOME, are still pneumatic. No word on cut-over timelines, but the west slope is going to lose a lot of iconic signaling locations including those at Lilly, Portage, Cassandra and Summerhill so get your photos ASAP.
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| CP-CONPIT, still holding on. |
On the Connemaugh Line, the Rule 562 expansion has taken place with all ABS signals between CP-KISKI and CP-ETNA being removed. One note is that the Penn Central signal bridge in Tarentum is still intact even if the pair of PL signals have been taken off. No word on the PRR signaled interlockings on the classic portion of the Conemaugh line.
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| Alas, I was too late :-( |
The new signaling has been cut over on the eastern end of the Harrisburg Line. This removed the Rule 251 operation between CP-ROCK and also saw a number of re-configurations. This includes the removal of classic Reading interlocking CP-TITUS, which was replaced by a more traditional crossover called CP-LORAINE about 2 miles to the east. Also CP-PHOENIX was cut back to the east end of the tunnel with a new CP-CROMBY appearing about 2 miles from the west end of the old limits of CP-PHOENIX. CP-CROMBY takes the form of a double crossover to accomidate a "new" siding that takes the place of the second main track . This lengthens the single track bottleneck by about two miles. I am not aware of any other new crossovers, except for one or two at CP-BIRD.
Finally, new signals are going up on the western portion of the Fort Wayne Line past alliance at least as far as CP-MANCE.
Banks and Canon being cutover today
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. I'm going up this weekend to try and grab a couple more signal locations near Mifflin. You know if the autos between Cannon and Port are also being removed?
DeleteMike, sorry I'm remote, just following what I'd heard and know nothing about the schedule for the Pittsburgh Division portion to the west. I did hear maintainers getting a two hour window today for "cutover" work Canon to Rockville/Mary. Eastbound 14G had cab signal problem going through Banks; didn't hear resolution. Better get this one fixed before they move west.
DeleteJust a further update. Port is being cutover on the 28th so bye-bye autos in any case.
ReplyDeleteI'm visiting two locations around PORT tomorrow.
DeleteUpdate: Rumor is that Port to Thompson is being cutover today (Nov. 4). If true they're marching west on the Middle Division like Sherman marched to the Sea.
ReplyDeleteLatest runor: Mifflin and Hawstone Tomorrow and Monday (Nov. 18 & 19)
ReplyDeleteGreat work, love your blog of signal documentation and information!
ReplyDeleteSome additional info, correction about the signal bridge at Tarentum, PA. The location is Natrona, PA and is adjacent to the ATI steel mill. The bridge held signals 53 (within the MP-53 block) and was the approach for CP-Beale, about 2 miles to the east (right in your photo). The signal bridge was a Conrail creation when CR installed CTC on the Conemaugh Line in 1977-1978. It was a double track signal bridge with 2 heads for EB (1 full head top and a vertical head bottom for Approach Medium) and single head for WB moves. Sadly, Conrail single tracked most of the Conemaugh Line in the 1988-1990 period which reduced the signal masts to 2 for the single track. Last I knew, this bridge was still standing denuded as shown. CP-Beale had a ground mast for the EB signal and an I-beam signal bridge for WB moves just like the Natrona version. The WB bridge had 3 full heads at one time, a mast each for Main 1, Main 2 and Harris Siding. As you know CS Rule 562 installed here with all signals at Beale being the new PTC compliant "darth vaders". The WB signal bridge at Beale was removed at the signal cut-over due to the new aluminum cantilever set up just behind the old (old bridge was blocking the new signals). While the cranes and manpower was here for that job, I was surprised the signal bridge at Natrona was not removed. However, a radio base antenna was mounted on the signal bridge so may be a good reason it was not taken down. There was a cantilever block signal (signal 57) at West Tarentum Yard, it was not removed either, just signals masts removed.
Eric Johnson
As you may know, NS did a signal cutover on the Pittsburgh Line this past Sunday, 3-24-2019, between CP-Jacks and CP-Hunt inclusive. Sunday April 14, 2019, a big step will be taken with cut-over from CP-Hunt to CP-Gray inclusive (will include CP-Tunnel).
ReplyDeleteEric Johnson
Regarding E-P switches on the Pittsburgh Line, late last year and early this year, CP-Wing and CP-Traff were converted to electric switches.
ReplyDelete