I was finally able to upload a few pics to my webshots.com account...after much frustration and cursing Hopefully I'll have some more later in the week.
Lefty, Great shots! I especially like the contrast of the new SD's and the old train station. Keep 'em coming! Harold
Thank you, kind folks! Just a little historical background on Point of Rocks station (or "Rocks" as the dispatchers in Jacksonville refer to it)...the station is about 126 years old now. I think your perception of it looking German is right on, Alan! According to info gotten from my copy of Impossible Challenge II, the station is neither the oldest or most historically significant in the area, but probably the most recognizable. It's brick Bavarian-Gothic structure has been a favorite of many photographers and publications. It sits at the "Y" formed by the junction of the Old Main Line and Metropolitan Subdivisions (in the Southeastern portion of Frederick County in Maryland, USA; along the Potomac River). The building was built in two parts at somewhat different times. The rearmost portion is older. Francis Baldwin, of course, was the architect. It was struck by lightning in 1931 and badly gutted, but survived both that and the depression. The B&O completely rebuilt it in its original form, replacing the polychrome roof, windows, 19th century brickwork and ornate wood trim.
Lefty, heard on radio traffic was this: "Watchout for those 707's down around "Point O' Rocks". What did he mean? It was directed to an engineer on his way to the Rocks at the time. None of us can figure out the '707' part????
Watash...I think I may have figured out what in the world "seven-oh-sevens" meant. When I was down at "Rocks" recently, there was a track gang working on laying in a new switch and buzzing out the circuits in the junction box. This was all happening further down the tracks, out of view (otherwise I would've had pics of it all, but I didn't want to venture into the work zone!) I noticed two stakes with a red, metal square (maybe 8x8") at the top. These were not too far down the tracks and were on the outside of the tracks. I presumed this marked the beginning of the speed restriction through the work zone. I heard the dispatcher tell several trains to "watch the seven-oh-sevens through Rocks." I could be way off base, but it's my best guess! Here's a couple more pics: I couldn't resist taking a pic of this little guy I managed to get close to the work zone I was talking about earlier to get this shot (there wasn't any work going on this day). [ 28 June 2001: Message edited by: Lefty ]
Oops! Sorry Alan, I didn't mean to neglect your question about the switcher...It is an SW1 (fairly certain of that). I think I remember reading somewhere that is used purchased from the B&0 in the early 80's. Prior to that, I think it was used as a street runner in downtown Baltimore.
Lefty, Thanks for the pictures.... I noticed CSX is installing those new "Darth Vader" (shrouded) signals all up and down the line... I saw some in Selma (N.C.) recently. I'm glad I took shots of the searchlights before they came down I think one of my favorite telltale spotting features of the SW1 is the giant "toolbox" mounted on the front; no other stock EMD switchers had them. Harold
Yeah, Chessie...it's sad to see the old signals go. It's kind of the last remnant of the B&O that's still active. Although, I'm sure CSX is glad to get rid of them. I've been hearing an awful lot of activity on the maintenance frequency...many of these signals have been malfunctioning and I guess are just getting too expensive to maintain. The new ones pictured here at Rocks and at several other locations I've noticed are not active yet. I never thought about looking for that huge toolbox as a telltale sign on the SW-1! Thanks for the tip! Here's another pic (sorry these are coming one or two at a time...my account at webshots doesn't like more than two at a time for some reason). [ 29 June 2001: Message edited by: Lefty ] [ 29 June 2001: Message edited by: Lefty ]
Lefty, maybe the "7-0-7" is some sort of designation for the Darth Vader signals that were starting to be put up then? The little push/pull cart looks like some I have seen loaded with kegs of rail spikes that a couple of guys were pushing along while laying in a new frog. I had noticed several of these kegs laying along the right of way, while driving along, then came upon the crew installing a frog, and saw the little cart almost identical to the one you show. There was another one, a little longer that had crow bars, fish plate wrenches and and some other tools on it standing on the other side of the crew.
