The 1959 PRR Freight Schedule is posted on broadway.pennsyrr.com. Here is an example: http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/Rail/Prr/Frtsched/bc8_1960.html Here is my question: When the instructions say "Protect connection from Trains CE-2, ED-59, et al, what exactly does that mean? I also noticed that sometimes it says "protect connections FROM trains" and other times "protect connections TO trains." Hopefully someone can answer this for me. Thank you! :question:
I have heard of "protection power" on trains, where a particular class of loco is normally used to handle a scheduled train, but if the normal loco becomes out of service or otherwise available, another locomotive might be kept on hand, like a spare, to "protect the schedule", ie. to make sure the scheduled can be run. In the case of a freight schedule, "protecting a connection" might mean that this train is routinely responsible to handle the freight coming from a connection, and might need to modify its departure from a junction to make sure that freight is being handled. OR-- it might mean that another train normally handles that connecting freight, but this particular train is responsible to make sure that particular freight is handled if the normal connection can't do it or is overloaded. Someone else may know more accurately, but that's my guess.
I would think "protect the connection" means they will not be allowed to depart until those named trains arrive with the cars which must be forwarded. If it causes them to be delayed, they simply have no choice but to depart late.
