There is more to a railroad than trains.

[Peirce]

We spend a a great amount of or energy and film photographing trains. But without the infrastructure and the people the trains would go nowhere.

I am going to start off the infrastructure thread with this photo of a groundthrow. This one is still in use in the Danbury Railway Museum railyard. It has patent dates of 1927 and 1928 molded into its cast frame. And it was manufactured in Hilburn, NY.

http://images.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/84258/026_THIS_SWITCH_GROUND_THR-vi.jpg

Note to board admin: If there is a better place for this thread, please move it. I didn't find any for infrastructure.

[ 12. October 2002, 13:58: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[ten87]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Peirce:
We spend a a great amount of or energy and file photographing trains. But without the infrastructure and the people the trains would go nowhere.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yahwoo! I've always said, it's a model railroad, not a model train!



------------------
Ed Harrison
http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/103.gif Ed's Mental Cab Ride (http://harrison.railsusa.com)

[Chessie_SD50_8563]

Exactly... Even though I pay more atention to detailing my equipment more at times than detailing my scenery.

------------------
Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System
LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!!
LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!
LONG LIVE THE BN!!!
(I am one of those wierd Chessie,CR,BN Fans)
I looked at DCC... and stayed DC!
Junkyard Wars is a Cool Show!!!
Maumee & Cuyahoga Rail System is Proud to be NARA's 20th Member

[Colonel]

As GATs and i both work on rail infrastructure i suppose we take it for granted when I go too work tomorrow I'll have a look at what pictures I have and I'll start posting them. I had been thinking about proposing a Signallng forum to Charlie but maybe it could be more than just signalling.

------------------
Regards

Paul #1-Moderator & Member number 50
http://www.iconbazaar.com/people/sleuth.gif SPAD Investigator #1
ICQ 61198217
http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[watash]

If you guys can get a person next to the item, it can give us a feel for the size too.

------------------
Watash #982
"See you in the Pit" http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/092.gif

[slsffriscokid]

Hey There!

Kudos for the idea! Its great...

As a conductor for the C&O out of Richmond, I will testify that those Butterfly switch stands were the biggest pain in the rump! They are so hard to throw it isn't even funny! They were the worst of the Ramapo low-boys!

Where oh, where are my high-stands? Or how about run-throughs....Hey Dinosaur! Yeah, you Watash! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif How about an old spring switch? Ha Ha Ha!

If it ain't in notch 8, you're runnin' late!

Get that coal down! http://www.trainboard.com/mad.gif

Randy
SLSFFRISCOKID

[Peirce]

Bravo! You're getting the idea. Now let's see more pix of those things that support all that great rolling stock. My hope was that I could get you to look beyond the obvious.

------------------
Peirce Behrendt
Southbury, CT
peirce@attglobal.net (formerly ibm.net)

[Peirce]

Here's two for one. In the foreground, a service pit, long out of use. It is accessed from the turntable (still operational) in the background. They are located in the yard of the Danbury Railway Museum. This yard was orginally owned by the New Haven RR and used to support both freight and passeger operations.

http://images.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/84258/025_ENGINE_SERVICE_PIT-vi.jpg

[ 12. October 2002, 14:01: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[Colonel]

How would you guys feel about this topic being part of "On the rails" and include MOw equiment in the same forum as well as all types of prototype equipment?

------------------
Regards

Paul #1-Moderator & Member number 50
http://www.iconbazaar.com/people/sleuth.gif SPAD Investigator #1
ICQ 61198217
http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[This message has been edited by Colonel (edited 29 January 2001).]

[ten87]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Colonel:
How would you guys feel about this topic being part of "On the rails" and include MOw equiment in the same forum as well as all types of prototype equipment?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sounds like a great idea to me...



------------------
Ed Harrison
http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/103.gif Ed's Mental Cab Ride (http://harrison.railsusa.com)

[Peirce]

As I suggested in my first post for this thread, such a move might be considered. So, it is fine with me.

The reason I started it here was to nudge us photographers to look beyond the obvious and see what else, railroad related, is around us.

Including MOW and other prototype stuff is OK too.

We might also want to consider another thread focusing on the people who make it all work.

------------------
Peirce Behrendt
Southbury, CT
peirce@attglobal.net (formerly ibm.net)

[Peirce]

For starters, in the MOW category, we have the lowly Burro crane.

http://images2.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/84258/023_THIS_BURRO_CRANE_IS_NO-vi.jpg

[ 30. March 2004, 19:51: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[Alan]

That looks great! I wouldn't mind one of those standing in my MOW siding http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

------------------
Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12
The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

http://acmodels.homestead.com/files/ac40.gif
www.alancurtismodels.com (http://www.alancurtismodels.com)
http://acmodels.homestead.com/files/aw30.gif
Andersley Western Railroad (http://www.trainweb.org/andersleywestern/)

Alan's American Gallery (http://www.trainweb.org/alansamericangallery/)

[watash]

Slsffriscokid, the spring switches were great unless frozen! Did you ever see a trainee leaning on the lever of a high stand, the engine or car coming out on the main, and the kid didn't have the lever latched? I have, and after I got up, I remembered to always latch the lever and let it fall all the way down!HA.

------------------
Watash #982
"See you in the Pit" http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/092.gif

[Peirce]

Back to infrastructure items.

Here is something that has gone from very common to very rare. I am not going to name it just yet. It would be interesting to see how many of the "younger" members of our little group recognize it.

http://images2.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/84347/024_MAIL_PICK-UP_RIG__A_M-vi.jpg

[ 30. March 2004, 20:02: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[E-8]

Neat Pierce. It's getting interesting here.

------------------
http://www.trainboard.com/e-8/jester.gif Ship It On The FRISCO! (http://www.frisco.org) | IAMOKA.com (http://www.iamoka.com)

[Peirce]

Thanks, E-8. I still hope others will join in and post some of their non-train railroad pictures. Com'on guys, let's see some you your shots, even if you have to go out and take some new ones.

Seriously, I do hope others will join in. I don't have a huge collection of infrastructure and MOW pix. But, I am going to answer my own challenge and to out and get more. . :eek:

[ten87]

Okay, I'm in. Here is a shot of the signal towers they put in when BNSF tripple tracked the area between Esperanza and Prado Dam, California. I sure wish we'd get a decent N scale version of this...

http://www.railsusa.com/sites/unitrack/sigtwr.jpg

[ten87]

Okay, here's another one.

http://www.railsusa.com/sites/unitrack/spurs.jpg

The main line belongs to the Metrolink (SCAX) and takes a short cut from the BNSF line at Atwood to Orange, California. The closest siding gets maybe one or two cars spotted there a month, while the next siding, with the tankers, gets in and out traffic every day. Haven't figured out why they have low profile on one and not the other. Must be one of those if it's not broke, don't fix it things.

[ten87]

Here's that siding from the other end. The tanks are filled with corn syrup for a food processing plant. I like the chain link and barbed wire around the siding. I'm going to do that in a couple places on my home layout.

http://www.railsusa.com/sites/unitrack/tanks.jpg

[ten87]

I should apologize for the dark pictures. It was overcast when I shot these. I like the details of the smaller door within a big door, a ladder, and a box car ramp. I'll definately be adding these details to my layout.

http://www.railsusa.com/sites/unitrack/doors.jpg

[ten87]

One of the great things about modeling a modern prototype, is that the modern commuter railroads have very small stations. Essentially a platform and a shelter. This is the station where I catch my train to work. It's nothing but an ticket vending machine, a pay phone, a bus stop and a train platform.

http://www.railsusa.com/sites/unitrack/corona.jpg

[DaveCN5710]

You guys are hilarious :D

Those are some cool pics smile.gif

[Peirce]

Now we are making some progress. Thanks for those great pix.

Here is my next contribution. It is in the MOW - Maintenance of Weigh - category.

http://images.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/84258/009_FREIGHT_SCALES_HAVE_TO-vi.jpg

To keep their customer's confidence (and later to meet government regulations), railroads had to certify the accuracy of their scales. Scale test cars such as this were developed. This one weighs 30,000 pounds. It was retired when regulations were changed to require a minimum weight of 80,000 pounds. This car is at the Danbury Railway Museum.

[ 12. October 2002, 14:33: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[guppyman]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ten87:
I like the chain link and barbed wire around the siding. I'm going to do that in a couple places on my home layout.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have been thinking about chain link & also lattice in N scale. How do you think you will do that? I have thought about small screen possibly for the chain link.

Just fishing for ideas.

[ten87]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by guppyman:
I have been thinking about chain link & also lattice in N scale. How do you think you will do that? I have thought about small screen possibly for the chain link.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://www.railsusa.com/sites/harrison/grain.jpg

This N scale fence is from the Tomix Power Plant. Gold Metal Models (http://www.goldmm.com/) also sells the fencing in etched brass. You can also try scratch building it with wedding veil lace (it looks much better than it sounds! :D

[rush2ny]

smile.gif Cool pix Peirce! I myself have been to Danbury several times and know that you must have this pic in your files (and it falls right into this category)
http://hometown.aol.com/rush2ny/crane.jpg

P.S. Fitz on the NYC board informed me that you have a website with good pix from Danbury. Can you supply me with the URL? Thank-you!

Russ- The Hoffman Valley RR (http://users5.50megs.com/rush2ny/hvrrpage.html)
http://hometown.aol.com/rush2ny/hvlogo.jpg

[rush2ny]

Ten87 -
Cool idea on the chain link fence! I am looking for any ideas on fencing around a farm, one of those post and wire type fences in particular. The posts are easy, do you have any idea what a good guage wire or substitute would be?
Any help appreciated! Thanks.

P.S. I model N scale

Russ - The Hoffman Valley RR (http://users5.50megs.com/rush2ny/hvrrpage.html)
http://hometown.aol.com/rush2ny/hvlogo.jpg

[ten87]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by rush2ny:
...I am looking for any ideas on fencing around a farm, one of those post and wire type fences in particular. The posts are easy, do you have any idea what a good guage wire or substitute would be?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gotta go first with the etched brass. There is a lot of variety available: gates, with and without barbed wire, staright barbed wire, etc.. I did a fence before using sewing pins with the heads cut off and wedding veil lace for the mesh. Mine was in N scale too.

[Colonel]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by rush2ny:
Ten87 -
Cool idea on the chain link fence! I am looking for any ideas on fencing around a farm, one of those post and wire type fences in particular. The posts are easy, do you have any idea what a good guage wire or substitute would be?
Any help appreciated! Thanks.

P.S. I model N scale

[/IMG]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You might want to post this question in "The Inspection Pit" forum as some of the guys there (especially Watash) may be able to help you

:D
Here is another type of infrastructure that is rarely seen by railfan. It is a Signal Control Centre. This is the centre where Gats works every day lol


http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1321106&a=11250173&p=39910716

[ 03 February 2001: Message edited by: Colonel ]

[Peirce]

:D Russ - You bet I do. I haven't put it into my public albums yet, however. Glad to have yours.

;) Paul - I have more than one album on PhotoPoint devoted to railroading, plus several others. It is not really a web page as such, but it is very useful. Here is the link to all my public albums:
Pix all moved to:

http://public.fotki.com/Peirce/

:cool: Everybody - Feel free to browse my albums. Feel free to leave comments in the guestbook.

[ 12. October 2002, 14:37: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[Peirce]

Paul - Super addition to this thread. The control center is certainly an important piece of infrastructure. Equally important to a railroad: people.

[rush2ny]

First, thank-you all (Peirce, Colonel and Ten87) for your advice. Some very good ideas. Next, here is a pic of a hand-throw that I took in the local railyard. Enjoy! :D
http://hometown.aol.com/rush2ny/switch.jpg
P.S. This is an awesome thread!

Russ - The Hoffman Valley RR (http://users5.50megs.com/rush2ny/hvrrpage.html)
http://hometown.aol.com/rush2ny/hvlogo.jpg

[Colonel]

There is so much we can post for infrastucture. Once charlie has settled with all this updating there is a good chance we will include this subject as part of the "On the rails" forum :D

[Paul Templar]

Don't know if this would qualify. Telltails.
http://members.trainorders.com/shamus/telltail1.jpg

[Gats]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Colonel:
Here is another type of infrastructure that is rarely seen by railfan. It is a Signal Control Centre. This is the centre where Gats works every day lol
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Great image manipulation, Paul.
Not only did you managed to blank the monitor's screen, but you have have Keith looking like he knows what he's doing and Skinner awake!
Excellent job!
No prizes for guessing what Mr. Maher is saying (or thinking) :D

Gary.
Sometime 'worker' at said establisment.

[Colonel]

I'm just wondering Gary is the monitor blank because you had just finished working on it?
:D

[Peirce]

Telltales are part of the infrastructure, without a doubt, Paul.

Colonel - I have mixed feelings, now that I see how this thread is developing. My original intent still stands--trying to urge us photographers to look beyond the obvious and see the infrestructure and people. However, you are right that this thread could be in one or more other places. It easily crosses the lines. With Paul's addition of a shot from his model layout that fits this theme, we could put this thread in the Inspection Pit as well. My current feeling is to leave it in the photo area because this area can be applied to all the other topic areas.

[Maxwell Plant]

I've been meaning to look at this topic for awhile, I'm glad I finally did. I think it has the makings of another forum for us here. "On the Rails" to me, doesn't quite hit it for me, but "Around the Rails" might be better. Phisical plant is always important in the modeling of our railways. I've seen too many "PERFECT" or better put, "CLEAN" model railways. Railroads are not "SPOTLESS" and have alot of grunge laying around. Old ties/sleepers, trash, weeds/trees/brush, mile/whistle posts, grafitti, switch stands, signals, power boxes, track gangs, hi-railers, MOW equipment, abandoned buildings/rolling stock, RAILFANS, power/telephone poles, piles of unused ballast, ejected sand, worn or new rail, just to name a few things that seem to be missing from many layouts. This would be a helpful forum to get your railway looking like a railway. Of course, we can always talk and post pictures of this type of topic in "The Pit". Think it over...

[ 05 February 2001: Message edited by: Maxwell Plant ]

[Colonel]

I tend to agree with you Brent that maybe a forum "around the rails" would be a great addition to the site. I don't really think it is for "The Pit" as not all the topics surround modelling.
As for rail corridors being a dirty site you are right on. The corridor is anything but clean especially where rail lubricators have been placed to reduce rail wear and wheel squell. Numerous times I have been walking the track and looked down to be standing in grease lol.
Certainly there is a great deal to be gained by a forum bsed on rail infrastructure.
What do you think Charlie?

[Rule 281]

I just hopped in on this thread. Looks like a great idea for On the Rails. It gets a little old looking at nothing but engines all the time. There's a lot more out there.

[Peirce]

Since I am the originator of this thread, I would like to suggest using its title for the suggested new forum. It may be a little long, but it does a good job describing the content. "There Is More To Railroads Than Trains."

I also suggest two threads at a minimum, this one and one devoted to people.

[Colonel]

Not a bad Idea i'll suggest it too Charlie,
by the way i took a picture of this signal today while carrying out an inspection.
The signal is a double aspect colour light, this is the latest technology using LED's rather than incandescent globes. They have a much broader focus and hotspot. They consist of approx 300 individual LEDS so if a few burnout is does not effect the sighting. sorry for the picture quality but my work digital camera is rather dated.

The cost of the signal conversion is approx 120 Kato N scale SD40-2's lol i only price my projects against what I could buy at the hobby shop hehehehe http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1321106&a=11250173&p=40304908

[Maxwell Plant]

It's amazing how "North American" that signal group looks.

Just a thought...should we move this topic to a more visable forum, I'm sure not everyone comes to the Photography Forum. We might get more interest in starting a new "There's More to Railroading Than Trains" forum if we did. smile.gif

[heracles87]

Some very interesting photos and thoughts here people. Colonel's LED signal I found rather interesting.

One questions though: Where are the tower photos??? Lets see some.... :cool:

[fitz]

I tried to find a shot of some of the dual-guage track at the Colorado RR Museum-awesome stuff with dual guage switches, frogs, etc. I only have it on video. Any of you Colorado guys have any shots? It's pretty fascinating.

[Alan]

Judging by the posts here, and the wide scope of this topic, I feel it would stand having it's own forum smile.gif

[Peirce]

Paul,
Your picture if the signals is on the dark side, but in this case, I like it that way. It shows off the signals in a more dramatic fashion.

[ 30. March 2004, 19:59: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[Hunter]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Peirce:
[B]Back to infrastructure items.

Here is something that has gone from very common to very rare. I am not going to name it just yet. It would be interesting to see how many of the "younger" members of our little group recognize it.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=76905&a=6808402&p=27132427&Sequence=0&res=high
B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hmmmmm, Isn't that a thing that they put the mail on and when the eXpress came by they would reach out with a stick an' get the mail?! smile.gif

[Robin Matthysen]

Here is another oldie. This was at a siding of a paper mill that is now closed. Last summer, CN removed it and the track leading to it. It has probaly been recyled by now. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=123788&a=911318&p=13109074

[Peirce]

Hunter - You are correct. The two arms that are nearly vertical in the picture are spring loaded. The mailbag is suspended between them. The Railway Post Office (RPO) car had a special hooking device that would snag the bag. The arms would then spring out of the way. The mailbag would slide along the arm of the retrieval device on the RPO and into the car. The train would not have to slow down.

Robin - This is a classic design in your photo. Many are still in use today. Thanks for adding it to this thread.

[fitz]

Peirce, this is a great thread. Enjoying it very much and wish I had more to contribute.
Fitz :rolleyes:

[Hunter]

Tody was a great day railfan-wise. I got a pic of something no one has mentioned. The coupler!! Sorry I can't post it, I haven't a scanner. :( :rolleyes: I mean, what would the railroad be without couplers?? :D :D

[Robin Matthysen]

Hi nbrr2000. If you wish, send me a copy of your picture by snail mail and I will scan it and post it for you.
send to
Robin Matthysen
24 Elena Court
Georgetown
Ontario, Canada
L7G 4Z2

[Peirce]

In one respect, this may be so obvious it is easily overlooked. However, not in this case, since it is in a passenger station in Paris, France. This is the way the French lay track in the stations. The ties are a combination of concrete and steel.

http://images2.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/85051/014_TYPICAL_TRAIN_TRACK_IN-vi.jpg

[ 30. March 2004, 20:05: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[Bos]

I enjoy this thread also, thanx to Colonel for the control room shot. I'm still analog most of the time but WILL figure out how to get a picture to you'uns.

[Kevin Stevens]

I actually have some shots on my website of an abandoned rail line near my hometown of Bakersfield, CA. As a side note, some of the rail in place is rumored to be dated 1882. I actually saw some 61 1/2 lb. rail labeled Sheffield Toughened Steel (Sheffield being in England) and dated 1887. Here are a couple of the photos:
http://www.trainweb.org/KernJunction/sunset/07020009.jpg
http://www.trainweb.org/KernJunction/sunset/07020006.jpg

[Peirce]

Our interest in infrastructure includes both old and new. Earlier a relatively new station was pictured. Here is an old one, built around 1905 by the Lackawanna Railroad, both as a passenger station and their corporate headquarters. It cost them a little over $500,000 and included a Tifany glass ceiling over the main concourse. When the Hilton organization restored it a few years ago, they spent over $14 million. It is now a hotel run by Raddison. There is one of the finest restaurants of the area in the main concourse.

http://images2.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/85052/003_FRONT_OF_LAKAWANNA_STA-vi.jpg

This night shot was taken in October, 2000.

[ 30. March 2004, 20:14: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[Robin Matthysen]

Here is a another old station. This one in Georgetown Ontario was built by the Grand Trunk Railroad in 1858. It is built with limestone bricks. VIA uses it occasionaly but mostly it is used to sell tickets for the GO commuter service to Toronto http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=123788&a=911318&p=40242522

[rush2ny]

Kevin,
Great shots of that abandoned line. Would you happen to have any pix of that wooden trestle that it is going over? Now that would be a great contribution to this thread that I would like to see! (Love wood trestles) smile.gif

Russ/NYC
The Hoffman Valley Railroad (http://users5.50megs.com/rush2ny/hvrrpage.html)
NARA member#28

[watash]

To make a fancy wrought iron fence around the front yard of an old Victorian house, we painted baby lace with black gloss and laid it on paper towels for a minute, then hung it up with a clothes pin to weight it to stay straight. Looked great. Made the gate the same way. Nylon netting might be used to make a finer mesh fence if needed. Spray both sides. :D

[John Whitby]

Just found this photo of a British Travelling Post Office coach which was used to collect mail on the move. (See Peirce's original posting)
http://website.lineone.net/~swisstrains/mail.jpg
Best wishes
John.

[ 09 March 2001: Message edited by: John Whitby ]

[John Whitby]

Hi all,
Me again. Whist looking for the TPO photo I also found one of a trackside sign from the South Devon coast line here in England. I took it about 15 years ago so I don't suppose it still exists.
It reads “British Railways. Notice is hereby given that by 14 and 15 Vict Cap any person who shall without the previous consent of the railways or their engineer in writing, dig, excavate or remove any soil, beach, mud, shingle, gravel, stones, rock or other like material begin to do at or from any place upon the shore or beach of the sea on the outer or sea side of the line of railway within 30 yards or who shall without such consent as aforesaid dig, excavate or remove any sand or rocks so to do on the outer or sea side of the said railway and within 20 yards of any point of any sea wall, buttress, breakwater or other work constructed or to be constructed by the railways between the beach or sand bank called the warren in the parish of Kenton in the county of Devon and the end of the terrace wall at the back of the public baths westwards of the mouth or entrance of the tunnel of the railway at east Teignmouth shall for every such offence be subject to a penalty not exceeding 10 pounds and notice is hereby further given that by the 35 and 36 Vict Cap 132 it is enacted that the above be read and construed as if the words 60 yards had been substituted for the words 30yards and as if the words 40 yards had been had been substituted for the words 20 yards respectively used in that section and the prohibition contained in the same section shall be deemed to include all soil, beach, mud, shingle, gravel, stones, rock and other like material and any sand within the said extended distances respectively although the sand may have originally been beyond and have been brought within these for the purpose of…………..”
This is how us Brits say....."don't steal railroad dirt"
Best wishes
John
http://website.lineone.net/~swisstrains/br_sign.jpg

[ 09 March 2001: Message edited by: John Whitby ]

[Alan]

Hello John, good to see that Gresley TPO, also the amazing sign :D

[ten87]

I was cruising the photo gallery at N Scale Supply, and there is a great page there with trackside photos. A derailment ruined their railfan trip, so they spent the time looking at all the details. Here's the web page (http://www.nscalesupply.com/Base/9906/Tunnel1-20/Tunnel1990620.html).

Dragging equipment detector:
http://www.nscalesupply.com/Images/Base/9906/Tunnel1-20/Photo990620-454s.jpg

Flange greaser:
http://www.nscalesupply.com/Images/Base/9906/Tunnel1-20/Photo990620-442.jpg

[Alan]

Here is my local station

http://usafour.homestead.com/files/station.jpg

This is the signal box which controls all that is left of the tracks in the Spalding station area. Most of the box is boarded up, and just the end near the road crossing is now used. When it was built, there were many levers, but now only a few switches to control the barriers and signals, with a few levers for the track points (switches).

The number 1 on the box indicates that it is Spalding #1, as there used to be several more, controlling various parts of the large railway system here.

http://usafour.homestead.com/files/sigbox.jpg

[rush2ny]

Some more MOW equipment complete with authentic NY grafitti! :D
Russ/NYC
The Hoffman Valley Railroad (http://users5.50megs.com/rush2ny/hvrrpage.html)
NARA member#28
http://hometown.aol.com/rush2ny/mow.jpg

[CP&E 3207]

my Town lost a lot of history, wen the local railreoas station went up in flames may 19th, 1995. Some idiot set the thing on fire. The sation was built in the 30-40's by the B&O. at the time of the arson, (and years before) the station was used as a Helper base (pair of sd40-2s changed each week)By CSX pushing Coaltrains hrough Finshing Camp, and to Grafton. or through Buckhannon (my town) to burnsvill where it was traded form another helper set while the pair of SD40-2 helpers took a load of boxcars with lumber from Weyerhauser. back to Buckhannon, then put onto the next coal train to grafton. Now there is a Cinder Blcok, building with more electronic stuff inside just as the Local freight's base (1 or 2 a week, usually with GP38-2's)
P.s. whne the station burned it burned an old wooden boxcar standing in front of it.

[Peirce]

I usually describe a "speeder" as a modern version of the old handcar. The few handcars still around are in private collections, for the most part. This one is on display at the Valley Railroad station in Essex, Connecticut. One of the operating handles is missing.

http://images2.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/84347/013_Handcar_at_the_Valley-vi.jpg

[ 30. March 2004, 20:17: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[Telegrapher]

Last summer my wife and I visited a railroad musuem in Carson City Neveda. We came across a group of first grade children with a couple of teachers. They had a piece of track about 60 feet long and the kids had a ball pumping a old hand car back and forth on the track. They put 2 kids on each handle and they took turns pumping the car back and forth. Aa caretaker from the museum stood in the middle and got the kids co-ordanated pumping the handle up and down. Each time a new batch of kids got on and started pumping (tried) they couldn't get anyplace until the guy took about 5 minutes explaining how to do it. Once they got started they covered the length of track in nothing flat and the guy really had to put on the brakes Everybody laughed so hard watching them we almost split a gut. It was well worth the trip. :D :D

[fitz]

Telegrapher, glad I caught up with you. Watash says the three of us are the oldest members of this board, but Chris Dante says he is in our age group.
Handcars--at Railfair 99 they had a great setup for kids and old kids alike, with a wide grip on the handcar so that about six people could pump. My grandkids had a great time on that machine. :D

[Telegrapher]

Hi Fitz. Just got back from a potluck at church and saw your note. If I hang on to this long enough it should carry over to tomorrows forem. I beleive Watash is 70+. Are you the one that said you were 70 on another forem?? I turned 68 last halloween. (Thats right).
I thought I knew oregon pretty good as my wife and I managed a motel in portland for 3 1/2 years and I had a aunt and uncle in Milwaukee. He used to work on the UP switcher in the yard in portland. Where is Waldport?? Is it close to I-5 or on the coast?
My E mail is rea@ccio.com
We can believe Dante as soon as he tells us his age.

[ 12 March 2001: Message edited by: Telegrapher ]

[Telegrapher]

I guess I sent this in a split second early and it got wiped out so her it is

[fitz]

Dick, no I'm only 61. Only??? Waldport is on the coast about halfway between the Ca and Wa borders. 15 south of Newport, 33 North of Florence, on 101. Does the rea in your address stand for your initials or for Railway Express Agency? My dad worked for the REA for years on the New York Central.

[Telegrapher]

Fitz - I knew I heard that name someplace. My wife and I have traveled 101 several times. The rea are my real initials. We are planning to make another trip to Washington and had talked about the possibility of going to coast road. Don't know if it will be this year or next year. I dread that bridge spanning the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon. We are both from Washington but left in 1955 where I went to work as a Telegrapher for the old suffren pacific out of Dunsmuir, Ca. I have tooo many relatives up there :( and they are all butinskys. Now we live in a Senior trailer park in Esparto, Ca just 14 miles west of Woodland on highway 16

Now that your past 60 are you finding the years picking up speed? I sure did. :eek:

[Peirce]

Here are two views in the interior of a Railway Post Office (RPO). This car is fully restored and on display at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, PA.

This first view shows the sorting area for letters.
http://images2.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/85052/005_RPO_-_RAILROAD_POST_OF-vi.jpg

This view shows the other end where larger items are sorted. Note, also, there are overhead bins used in sorting the mail.
http://images2.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/85052/004_RPO_-_RAILROAD_POST_OF-vi.jpg

[ 30. March 2004, 20:21: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[DaveCN5710]

hi Peirce , tell ya what . I am a railroad engineer , I can add ALOT of different photos of different equipment ect... if you would like smile.gif

[ 18 March 2001: Message edited by: Davecn5623 ]

[Peirce]

I like the idea of as many different pictures as possible in keeping with the theme of this thread. Before you post too many, what do you think of the idea proposed earlier, by some, that this thread be made into a forum? I believe there is enough material out there to support this, if what we have seen so far in an indication.

Can we get more input and assistance from the board admin on this question? I would be willing to co-moderate such a forum. I have never been a moderator before, so I don't want to do it alone.

[Alan]

Judging by the response here, and the variety of photographs, etc. I would be in favour of a forum for this subject.

Charlie CAN sometimes be persuaded :rolleyes:

But what to call it?

[Peirce]

How about calling it "There is More to Railroads than Trains?"

:D ;)

[Colonel]

Pierce you definately have a point, this thread has been very informative. As I work on infrastructure I enjoy seeing rail items from other parts of the world. This topic has my support for its own forum.

[Hytec]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Peirce:
Back to infrastructure items.

Here is something that has gone from very common to very rare. I am not going to name it just yet. It would be interesting to see how many of the "younger" members of our little group recognize it.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=76905&a=6808402&p=27132427&Sequence=0&res=high

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Peirce, first I want to say that this "thread" is great, thanks for starting it! Yes, I agree that it should be a separate forum topic. There are just too many infrastructure items that alot of people may have seen, but know nothing about.

Second, we used to call your structure a "mail crane". We had one at Hoosick, NY that was serviced by the Boston & Maine's Minute Man every weekday afternoon.

However, our crane was gravity operated, not spring-loaded. We lifted the top arm and attached the upper mailbag ring. Then we raised the lower arm and hooked the lower mailbag ring. The lower arm latched the upper arm in place. Both arms had trailing "fingers", which allowed the bag to fly freely. When the bag was snatched by the hook and flew off the arms, the lower arm dropped, immediately dropping the upper arm.

Just before the hook snagged the outgoing bag, the hook operator kicked the incoming bag out the door. Hopefully, he kicked hard enough so that the bag wasn't sucked back under the wheels, but occassionally ..... :rolleyes:

Hank

[guppyman]

I was just wondering- When is this going to get it's own forum. This has been my favorite thread that I have seen since I came here. Keep it up folks.

[fitz]

Peirce, no trains in this. Photo taken in June 1906. I won't reveal the location as it is interactive with another thread.
http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/collin.jpg

[Telegrapher]

Jim

Why does that look familiar to me? Looks like something I saw back in the 40's.

[fitz]

Dick, in the forties there were many places like this. Too bad there aren't many left, eh? :(

[Gats]

Something I took back in 99 just west of Glencoe, MN. TCWR US DOT/ARR crossbuck ID plate on weathered post.

http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/photos/tcwrplaque.jpg

Gary.

[Peirce]

Fitz -
Excellent old picture. It looks like there are a couple of people in the center. Can you manipulate the picture to increase the contrast and see of they are there and make them more visible?

Having people included in a picture accomplishes two things. One, it adds life to the picture. Second, it gives a sense of scale. This is especially true in pictures such as yours.

Gats -
Good eye for detail. Little things like this that all have their important role. ;)

[fitz]

Pierce, I don't know if I can enhance my scan. I may try later. The original is pretty fuzzy, but you can see hats (typical for that time) and a guy who would get run out of the yard today. The one in the white shirt is standing smack dab on a frog, on the rails. BTW that is Collinwood Yard near Cleveland on the NY Central, correctly identified in the NYC forum by Roger Hensley.
;)

[watash]

Did anybody notice the switches have no guard rails? There are keeper flanges at the frogs, that guide the wheel flange away from the point of the frog! I haven't seen these in years. They may not even make them any more.

[Hunter]

Here is the pic of the coupler that I told about: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=123788&a=12288700&p=44850438 Special thanks to Robin Matt. for scanning it for me.

[Peirce]

Here are two questions for everybody who has been participating in this thread. They are both related to discussions I have had with the TrainBoard admin. relative to the possibliliy of making this thread a forum.

Which main category of fora do you feel this should be under? Such as "On the Rails" or whatever. Keep in mind that the original purpose of this thread was to get us, as photographers, to look beyond the obvious and give some attention to all those little details necessary to make those trains operate safely. That purpose has now grown to include some very excellent information, in picture form, for the model railroad community, and beyond.

Your support and contributions to this thread have exceeded my expectation. I thank you for that. Keep'um coming. Based on my observations elsewhere, we have the liveliest and most knowledgable group of any train site I have visited.

[ 03 April 2001: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[Colonel]

Pierce,
Congratulations on the forum. I would have thought the new forum to be placed with "On the rails" but after reading your last post I suppose it could fit into a number of places including photography, lets see what the members think. As for moderating the forum I could assist you although I feel I already moderate enough. I'd be quite happy to co-moderate for a couple of months until you got the idea to take it over yourself.

[Gats]

Thanks, Pierce. At the time of taking the photo, I didn't notice the wood grain at all. I was checking out the surfacing gang working a couple of mile west of Glencoe on the TC&W and wandered up the dirt road to the track. I thought the plate would be a nice addition to the photo collection. The post detail in the resulting shot was great. I have a framed 8"x10" blow-up on the wall!

As for a co-moderator for the new forum, I would be happy to assist as well.

Gary.

[Alan]

I am delighted that this thread has now found a home of it's own! Thanks Pierce for your persistence. This should give us modellers lots of ideas smile.gif

[watash]

Here is a shot taken by a gandy dancer during lunch break. It also shows the silver "Bungalow" on the left that Gregg mentioned in another Topic here. The main point of interest is the signal light arrangement on the right and someone else will have to tell us what the other stuff is, it is probably used on all railroads besides the BNSF.
http://ns1.gameinfozone.net/jan/hbway1.jpg

[ 18 July 2001: Message edited by: watash ]</p>

[Peirce]

This is just a guess, but could the two tanks on the left be holding fuel for a switch heater?

[Hytec]

Watash, sorry to say this, but your photo is the perverbial "Red X" at 2016 CDT on 5/4/2001. :(
Hank

[watash]

Hank, and guys, I appologize for the lack of photos from me right now. Southwest Bell lines are down from the Storms around here, some of which service my server. My webmasted has been livid with rage that SWB has put repairs on their back burner, telling him they will repair people's home lines before they look at business lines servibg the internet. They expected to have our hookup made today, but as you see it isn't done yet. Nothing I can do about it. :mad:

[watash]

Peirce, you are correct,
those things that look like spare ties laying between the rails are the flame hoods of a switch heater. Yes the fuel tanks can be seen in front of a tool and control bungalow for the signals, derail, and mainline switch. Those are common in snow country, but not seen in the south. Also, note the mainline switch is set to allow train movement off line into a yard or industrial complex.

A little along the siding, note a split rail derailing installation that protects the mainline from movements in the yard. A stray coasting box car would be derailed to prevent it from maybe going onto the mainline and on into a town or head on into an approaching train. This derail is a type that is remotely controlled by a dispatcher, (as is the mainline switch), and is probably why the work train is presently stopped.

Also a note about flange oilers. I understand the oilers have a nasty tendancy to be right where the track dogs want them, but that is usually the place engineers don't want them! Oilers tend to be put where it is thought that flange wear will occur, like on grades and some curves. Of course everytime a wheel rolls over this oiler, a button pump gives a squirt of heavy grease that hits each wheel, and eventually some always migrates onto the rail head, and wheel's tread, and Zinggo!!.. you get a busted knuckle! Unfortunately just when you are pulling hard and really need all the traction you can get, if you hit one of these, your wheels will suddenly spin, slowing up the engine which bunches the near couplers, then just as suddenly you get traction again, and off to the races we go until you hit that solid impact of no more slack in the coupers, and BOOM, you are running free, and watching your string of cars fading into the mists back down the mountain! You can't quick like a bunny run and catch them, there is nothing left to catch them with. It pays to know where these oilers are, and how best to get over them. It is a good thing that brakes are applied as soon as the air hoses part, or you would have a real runnaway that could prove fatal.

[Charlie]

just a quick word about flange oilers. When
I was qualifying in suburban service not too
long ago, we went over the oiler between
Lisle and Naperville and I had some wheel spin and the overspeed annunciator sounded.
When you are doing 70mph and you get wheel
spin, you have to react fast! That annunciator gets your attention RIGHT NOW!

[watash]

Maybe this will post:

I borrowed this from maintainence to show racks of spare parts. The parts are out in the weather when on the rolling stock, so storage is ok in this type of rack. Inside parts are stored inside of course.

http://ns1.gameinfozone.net/jan/racks.jpg

[ 18 July 2001: Message edited by: watash ]</p>

[watash]

Here is an interesting piece of equipment a company uses to unload coal cars then load it into their own dump trucks. They call it a Carhoe. You may have seen these anywhere and not recognized what it was.

There is a pocket under the track for a hopper car to dump into and a conveyor belt carry the load up dumping it into the dump truck bed. It also has a hydraulic arm sorta like a back hoe that the operator runs from up on the platform. There is a flat blade instead of a bucket he uses to poke the load down to the bottom while they are unloading. These are used for coal, gravel, ballast, or most anthing usually loaded in to dump trucks.

During the winter months, the load sometimes gets frozen in place, so the operator breaks the load up, loosening it enough to get the car empty. The flat blade works better than a bucket, because he can scrape the sides and bottom right up to the metal getting the car pretty clean. Even then, its still quite a job sometimes.

This one is all electric, though some have small gasoline generators to operate way out in remote areas like construction sites. Either way, he just turns it on and away we go! The guy I got the photos from said, "It sure beats a pick and shovel!"

This would make a nice craftsman's project with some dump trucks where you have a few hoppers required.

http://ns1.gameinfozone.net/jan/carhoe1.jpg

http://ns1.gameinfozone.net/jan/carhoe2.jpg

[Furtak]

http://communities.msn.com/FurtakNetRailFanPhotos/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=65

Alright here is my submission for more that just trains. I have a habbit of doing photo's of all aspects of the railroad. I also doing model railroading where I'm mainly a freelancer but get ideas from the proto-type. I just put up a site for photos and other miscellaneous train garb at http://railspike.net Today I'll be posting new photos which include items from "Not Only Trains". I'm from southern Florida so most of my photos are of the Palm Beach area which includes the local Tri-Rail system.

Tell me what you think.


Enjoy,

[Furtak]

:mad: Don't you hate when links aren't tested? ;) Let's try it again.

http://communities.msn.com/FurtakNetRailFanPhotos/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=65

- Image on
By the way this is the Yellow Spike that I posted on a previous board. Anyone know the meaning? (I have the answer, just curious if you know) By the way this is on an old sea board line now owned by CSX at the West Palm Beach seaboard passenger station.

RailSpike.net (http://RailSpike.net)

[Furtak]

Sorry about that I'm not going to try again. You can hit this pic at: Yellow Spike (http://communities.msn.com/FurtakNetRailFanPhotos/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=65)

[watash]

Here is a pushplow at work. My good buddy is probably hittin' a good sixty here because that snow is flying about 75 to 100 feet on either side. I saw these many times charging across the western plains of Kansas as I was growing up.

http://ns1.gameinfozone.net/jan/pushplow.jpg

[Alan]

Now THAT is an impressive photograph! I would love to see one of those in action :)

[Hunter]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Furtak:
[QB
By the way this is the Yellow Spike that I posted on a previous board. Anyone know the meaning? (I have the answer, just curious if you know) By the way this is on an old sea board line now owned by CSX at the West Palm Beach seaboard passenger station.

RailSpike.net (http://RailSpike.net)[/QB]<hr></blockquote>

Doesent it mark the clerence point on a siding?

[Hytec]

I don't know about a "yellow" painted tie, but on CSX (ex-L&N) along the Mississippi Gulf Coast a "white" painted tie shows where a large concrete drainage pipe is buried beneath and across the track.

[ 02 August 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]</p>

[Biggerhammer]

That plow is impressive! There's a caboose with a similar plow (takes up half the length of the caboose) in a little caboose village not far from me, but I've never seen it move, much less book along hurling snow like that.

[Peirce]

That is one on the best snowplow shots I have ever seen. I would like to suggest you use it to start a new thread on the subject of snow removal.

[watash]

Peirce, I tried that with my favorite, the big steam rotaries, but it didn't generate much interest. I have movies of rotaries in action, but not much in the way of postable photos.

[ 12 August 2001: Message edited by: watash ]</p>