Help reading Track Diagram

[sailormatlac]

Hi,

I'm actually trying to read a set of Erie Railroad Track Program Charts made in the 50s. Basically, it tells everything about the type of rail, ballast, bridge, culvert, signal, grade crossing, etc.

However, I'm having a hard time trying to decipher an abbreviation which isn't covered in the accompanying legend.



The abbreviation is: Sig. T. H.

Sig. is probably about signal, but T.H.? Tool House? Makes no sense because in the extract here you can see they identified the tool house and the depot clearly. Also, I know it's not a tower because it would have be clearly identified as such.

So I hope so gents here with better knowledge of railroad lingo can help with this one.

Best regards,

Matt

[ezdays]

Sig. T. H. Could be a Train Holding signal.... Just a thought, I'm not the most qualified here to answer for sure.... :!:

[e-paw]

Most likely it means signal "department " tool house, as the signal department and track gang were two different entities with different stores of tools.

[ezdays]

Most likely it means signal "department " tool house, as the signal department and track gang were two different entities with different stores of tools.

Ahh, I like your explanation better than mine....

[sailormatlac]

Most likely it means signal "department " tool house, as the signal department and track gang were two different entities with different stores of tools.

Thanks a lot. After checking the pictures again, it makes sense. In another spot (Maitland), the same indication is used while another tool house is nearby. Didn't know both were distinct entities, but it's certainly logical.

Thanks again!

Matt

[railohio]

Is that the Dayton branch?

[sailormatlac]

Is that the Dayton branch?

Yes it is. I'm currently working on a few ideas centered aroung Durbin or Maitland or Richwood, in 1952. I'm trying to gather as much information as I can. Particularly in Maitland, I'm curious about the International Harvester metal part warehouse that was located opposite the interlocking tower.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Is that the Dayton branch?

Some questions... Do you know when steam operation (freight and passenger) ended on Dayton Branch. The most recent pictures I've seen show a Pacific pulling a local freight in 1948. I suspect the branch was quickly dieselized.

[Brakie]

Are you going to model the need to either back out of the Marion yard to head South on the branch or the need to back into the Marion yard if the train is arriving at Marion?

You may be interested in Clear Block Production of Vignettes of the ERIE LACKAWANNA Volumes 1 & 2 since it has footage of the branch.

[sailormatlac]

Are you going to model the need to either back out of the Marion yard to head South on the branch or the need to back into the Marion yard if the train is arriving at Marion?

You may be interested in Clear Block Production of Vignettes of the ERIE LACKAWANNA Volumes 1 & 2 since it has footage of the branch.

EDIT: It took me some time to understand the back out move out of Marion. Now I understand what you mean. I would have been neat.


If I model the branch, it will be only one town on a continuous run and operated as a switching layout. Marion would be great, but it's more than I can chew and my goal is to focus on local freight switching. I've seen a few photo reports from the late 40s and early 50s documenting that aspect of Dayton Branch. I've got three choices: Durbin with CCC&StL traffic and the limestone plant, modelling Maitland and DT&I interchange or going fully rural with Richwood. All three concepts works fine in a 10' x 12' area and would provide a decent amount of entertainment for a solo operator in an hour. The train - depending on its direction - would be staged in open space then enter the town.

Richwood


Maitland


Thanks for the recommendation, I'll take a look at that. I've looked for books and footage about Erie over the last week, but I'm not eager to buy books I don't know if the content is pertinent.

[Brakie]

While both layout designs are good I'm not sure which I like the best since both would be fun to operate.

The Vignettes of the ERIE LACKAWANNA Volumes 1 & 2 are videos that shows a lot of operation at Marion including moves from and to the Dayton Branch with a pace shot or two on the branch...

[sailormatlac]

Larry, was there any through freight or passenger train between Marion and Dayton (possibly with Cincinnati as a final destination). My question may seem stupid, but I looked at many employee timetable for that area ranging from the 1930s up to the 60s and no trains are ever mentioned on the schedule for Dayton Branch. I find it weird... really weird.

Here's one of the ETT:

http://www.jon-n-bevliles.net/RAILROAD/E...ett25.html

Public timetables are also mute about that.

Matt

[Brakie]

Matt, That ET was enjoyable reading but,as you know nothing about a passenger train on the Dayton Branch which seems odd unless the branch was freight only which is a good possibility.

I'll make a few phone calls and see what I can dig up.

[sailormatlac]

Thank you for your help Larry! I really appreciate it.

I stumbled upon this 2012 article about a telegrapher working in Springfield. He started his career in 1954. While his reminescences aren't dated, they seem to fit the 50s-60s era since he refer to pre-Conrail trains.

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/l...qa9KgUJBI/

He mentions Erie only ran a local train from Marion to Dayton. The train ran 6 days a week, starting in Marion, the team spent the nigh in Dayton before returning back in Marion. According to the Erie Magazine 1955 article, they usually left Dayton at 2 PM but depending on work, they could reach Marion the next morning. It was implied they would switch all the town on the line well into the middle of the night.

Here's the Erie Magazine article. On the cover is the caboose of the Dayton branch local train. The article starts on page 10. The caboose had an air-activated whistle for backing moves. Anybody ever though about installing a sound decoder in a caboose... would be a neat feature.



Now, the interesting thing would be to know what the Big Four (NYC) ran on Dayton Branch... Their trains run by Maitland, that is a fact.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Larry, reading again the Erie Magazine article we learn this:

2 trains (91 from Marion to Dayton, 98 from Dayton to Marion). There could be second trains.

Ran 4 times per week, alterning. Most were night trains, except the second 98.

There was a local way freight between Dayton and Urbana that switched most industrial plants in the area.

Also, when I look at pictures in the article, I find out they switched facing point sidings too (at least in Durbin). That means they has to make a runaround move. Explains why it took so much time at that particular location. Morning Sun books has published the entire photo report in their Erie books, it's in volume 2.