Usually, as part of agreeing to allow the crossing, the second RR on the scene, the one that crosses the first, has to pay for everything. Including the levermen in the plant. Even if they are employees of the first RR. Boxcab E50
i just remember our pilot had to call UP DS to get time. btw some time back Mainline Modeller had an article on tower 16 in sherman. i dont have this issue but would like to get it. tom
The old linolium floor is gone and the old wood floor has been refinished. Old desks have been moved back in. The interlocker cabnet has windows installed on top and in front so you can see the old switch gear. A new window unit AC has been installed where UP took the old one out.
Russell, It's looking good! I like the way the interlocking gear is displayed. Now all we need is some diamonds and couple of steam powered trains, eh?
Will the machine be somehow made to seem functional? So levers can be pulled, and relays kick, etc? Boxcab E50
Yup. That's the plan. We have already pulled wires from the restored semaphores outside to the relay cabinet on the ground floor below. When hooked up, they will change aspect depending on the levers pulled. The old lighted route panel showing the track layout (there is a name for this, I just can't remember it right now Dispatch Board?) will also be tied in so you can pretend to line trains through the interlocker and the lights will indicate the route.
The coils in the interlocker cabinet are all hooked up and energized. The mechanical parts are well lubricated and in working order. It still all works after over 100 years. If you pull one lever, you are locked out of pulling any other lever until you clear the first one. The track display panel has all the lights hooked up so you can "line" trains through the plant while the semaphores outside change aspect.
You've several blades set up? That's neat! Can you link a photo in your RI album, which shows the signals? Boxcab E50
Maybe some day I'll get back down to Texas. If so, throwing a few levers will be high on my agenda! :thumbs_up: Boxcab E50
Some old photos One of the tower operators. Note the mix of technology. A telegraph telephone mouthpiece on an expendable accordion boom, regular telephone and computers. The interlocker cabinet with a billy club hanging on the right. This was to beat foamers off the stairs with. The tower was only three years old when this shot was taken.
Tower 17 and our Museum made the news on the Houston ABC affiliate. Got a few of their facts messed up as standard with any "news/journalism" medium tends to do. But all in all was good publicity for us. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=8482678&syndicate=syndicate§ion=
