Essential parts of any railroad, and layout, are the service structures. I guess a pit can be considered a structure if it has the word service or inspection associated with it. Here is the engine service/inspection pit in the Danbury, CT, Yard of the New Haven Railroad. The yard is now part of the Danbury Railway Museum. Behind the pit, in this view, is the only working turntable in Connecticut. [ 03 February 2002, 03:47: Message edited by: Peirce ]
Pierce, here are some photos taken on a routine inspection tour, or service trip that might be of interest. I borrowed these with permission to post them from the guys who took them over the years. This is an older one showing the old open flame switch heaters used up north in snow country. Maybe Canada, or one of the New England states, I don't remember for sure. It would sure make me nervous to have to stop one of today's diesel engines right over one of these with the flames coming right up under the diesel fuel tank! I think the ones today are remotely operated. I wonder what would happen on today's heaters if the dispatcher turned on the gas, but the heater didn't light? Quite a cloud of gas could accumulate by the time an engine came across it! KA BOOMBO!!! [ 20 June 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
Here is a more modern water tower and some of the spare parts I think are around a gangmill where switch points are made to fit. I'm going by memory here, so don't quote me.
Note on Switch Heaters- All of the switch heaters I've seen (Chicagoland area) need to be manually turned on by a track worker. But I guess there could be some that are controlled by dispatchers. Dave
Yeah, NSBrakeman, I thought someone had to go light the switch heaters too, but I have a cousin who is an avid fisherman, since retiring who travels a lot in the north country from Illinois as far as Maine. He does contract painting, and fix-up jobs, unless they conflict with a new fishing spot. While going through a box of photos I am finding some old, some new, some with notes on the back some just a mystery. He tries to send me train stuff when he thinks about it, and this topic reminded me to look for non-rolling stock things. I also have a sister and brother-in-law over in Tennessee who get around, and have sent me stuff on the NS from over there. I couldn't tell you what it is now, but you might recognize something. I think he was the one telling me that the NS has the automatic switch heaters in winter time. Anyway, you got to have really good track to run a railroad, right? Well, here is a shot of prototype railroad track. Make sure you lay your track at least this good! By the way, who says you have to have guard rails on a turnout, do you see any on this one? [ 21 June 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
Well remember that my name is misleading. The NS put me between jobs in the early 80s (merger garbage), and thats when I left for the IC. I just put NSbrakeman up there b/c thats what the old hogs always called me. I dont know about the switch heaters, and I never saw them where I was (southern US). And judging by your description of the turnout (pic is a red x), it must be self-guarding. Look at the frog and see if it has a sort of guard on it. See yah later "Pride of the Great Lakes Fleet" Dave
Sorry about that Dave, I forgot one number, so now the switch is there. I have seen the old yard switches that have the wheel guard flange sticking up, but this one does not have that feature and the frog is not the cast steel type, it is made from rail. There just wasn't any sign of guard rails or the "guarded frog" either. Here are a couple of newer things up in the diesel era I don't think have been posted yet, I'm guessing because of all the rivets, that this pair of tanks is maybe back in the 70's, probably around Rockford, Ill. These were for checking car brakes in and around the repair facilities. This is a new sand tower right after it was installed and painted. Judging by the grey and yellow paint, My guess is BNSF, maybe Knoxville, Tenn. It would be an interesting addition to a layout. [ 21 June 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
Still can't see the pics, but oh well. Maybe I'll get them on another computer, this one sometimes is a bit crazed. See yah later Dave
Also the yellow and gray look like CSX loco colors. I don't think BNSF has any use for yellow and gray, just orange .... Hank
Well at least I got a rise out of you! I have no idea where the BNSF goes, or who is in what towns! These are just a jumble of photos out of some boxes, so your guess is a whole lot better than mine. HA! For all I know the Norfolk Southern runs west through Moffet tunnel, and the New York Central runs east through it on odd days, that is when it isn't raining. They all stop in Dallas for donuts at midnight I think, maybe its 13:00 hours?
LIRR pass car wash sheds: <img src=http://www.nyandw.com/images/wislip3.jpg> Steve Lynch www.NYandW.com
Great addition to this thread, Steve. I don't recall seeing many pictures of this kind of facility. It would make an excellent addition to any model layout. I notice the LIRR made this one look like a giant caboose.
I have seen white painted ties as markers to line up for water tanks, but not yellow ones. My ole' fishin' buddy was going to get some shots of a big roundhouse the Erie RR has at Port Jervis, but it is all gone! He said the roundhouse burned back in the 80's, (he was told probably arson), so all that's left now is the turntable, a huge slab of concrete, and some stall tracks. He found out there is one working lead track that comes from the New Jersey Transit yard they used to turn the steam excursion engine that ran from Hoboken to Port Jervis a couple of years ago. Port used to be a huge yard in the Erie days but nothing's left there now but the Transit passenger yard and a platform for the commuters. So he got the following shots of the turntable for me, and I'll share with all of you.
The control house, turntable, and pit all look to be in quite good condition. Is this still being used?
Peirce, it was a couple of years ago. It still has the original brick or cobble stone pit floor. I think they did re-build the table to use to turn the excursion engine, but I'm not sure it is still running. The Transit might use it.
Peirce - The turntable still works as far as I know but I don't think it has been used since the steam excursions ended. NJT trains are push-pull so they have no need to turn anything there. I haven't heard of anything too recent but I'll check around a bit.
I am bringing this thread back to the top. It deserves more attention. Oh, yes, I also fixed my pix link.
Here is a detail shot of the top of the turntable arch at the DRM. It reflects back to the time the turntable was operated with an electric motor. It now has a gasoline motor driving it. I have noticed this to be a sometimes neglected modeling detail.
