When we last checked in on the Harrisburg Power Director's office about a year ago in 2024, the Big Board had been fully illuminated and most of the Westinghouse "Visicode" SCADA equipment had been reactivated with the help of modern technology simulating the presence of the field equipment like substations and such. However, because the 1930's PRR electrification projects had been funded with depression era WPA loans, the PRR had to spread the wealth and about half the office used GE "Code Selector" hardware that was more complex in operation and not as well documented.
Well between March and September 2024, members of the Harrisburg Chapter NRHS managed to locate the documentation for the GE gear (it was sitting on a storage shelf) and were then able to restore most of the GE panels to operation, which is especially useful that represents the bulk of what was still operational on the old PRR Main Line up through 2013. The GE gear brings the added fun of step switches being used to store digits instead of all-relay registers for the Westinghouse part of the office.
As if step-switches weren't enough, between September 2024 and March 2025, the team also reconnected the alarm lamps and bell which further adds to the effect.
Still to be addressed are the metering circuits along with programmed simulation elements that would allow visitors to participate in directing flows of 25hz power to virtual train movements. Still, the Harrisburg power office is mostly complete in terms of being "a thing that functions as it once did" so watch out for planned opening dates as the chapter is still trying to figure out how to manage regular hours.
This is incredible, thanks for sharing. I am definitely going to have to check it out at some point!
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