complicated trackage

[Puddlejumper]

There was some discussion in another thread regarding a diamond being used where 2 industrial spurs crossed each other. I recall someone mentioning the unlikelyhood of a diamond being used in that circumstance on the prototype. A couple things I have noticed regarding prototype trackwork- In the golden years of railroading track was more likely to be built to fit specific situations. Diamonds, when necessary, were used, even on industrial track. Turnouts wee built to fit, even overlapping turnouts with multiple frogs, 3 way turnouts, and lap turnouts or "slip" turnouts. In more modern times railroads seem to be going the more modular route, with turnouts prefabricated and dropped into place. There are no more new installations of curved and custom turnouts of yesterday. And while we modellers try to avoid "S" curves, I see no such avoidance on the prototype. And one other thing I have noticed, when you say something never happened, the prototype railroads will prove you wrong!

So here is my thought, post up photos in this thread of the most complicated trackwork you have seen. Three ways, slips, multiple crossings, overlapping switched/crossings, etc. Industrial or main line. People from Phily, New York, L.A., and Chicago should have plenty to show us.

Dave

[P5se Camelback]

On Front Street in Philadelphia, which ran along the western shore of the Delaware River, the city's many piers were serviced by the railroads. Streets (laid out in colonial times were narrow, with the trackage running down the middle of the street.

In order to be able to access the piers, Trackage was laid such that the yurnout woulf first go west before then sharply back to the east, crossing the trackage in the middle of Front street at an angle and, still curving sharply, entered the street end of the piers. The architecture of the piers made them look like fancy, ornate warehouses.

The piers and the street trackage are gone now, replaced by the high-rise riverfront condos and brick-pavered, flower-bed-lined walkways of urban renewal. I do remember, though, riding the fifteen blocks from my apartment down to Second Street on my ten-speed bicycle to go to work in my first consultant design office job as a real product designer, and at lunch, sitting on a bench and watching the Pennsy shifters shuffle box cars while the automobiles and delivery trucks dodged the rolling switchers shoving cars into the piers and the temporarily spotted strings of cars sitting in the middle of the street.

If you were going to model that scene in HO scale, my guess is that the turnouts on Front Street would be Number 4's or sharper and those curves would be a maximum of 18" radius, if not 15" radius or maybe even 12" radius! The flange squeal would hurt your ears ... even from half a block away!

Unfortunately, I never though to take any photos! Nor have I been able to find any ... yet!

EDIT: Corrected a misspelling :oops:

[ngauger]

I remember those "Freight cars in the middle of Delaware Avenue" I still go down there once in a while too

There's a Google earth pic of the area, with a train sitting on the Median on Delaware

Just search for Delaware Avenue Philadelphia PA and then click "Show Historical imagery" buttons at top of the screen. Drag the slide control back (left) until it stops.

[MrBill]

Looking north along Front Street in Reading Pa. at Spruce street yard. The triple diamond is to get sidings off of the Reading's line in the middle across Pennsy's on the left.

[Puddlejumper]

Love it! That is exactly what I want to see. Thanks for posting!

[MasonJar]

I recall that tetters had some good shots of the complicated series of crossovers and slip switches employed at Toronto's Union Station. Maybe posted at the "old" site?


Andrew

[BR60103]

I recall that tetters had some good shots of the complicated series of crossovers and slip switches employed at Toronto's Union Station. Maybe posted at the "old" site?


Andrew

Maybe like this one?
   
but that's not freight track, except for 1 line on the right.

[MasonJar]

Thanks David!

And not to worry - the original call was for "complicated trackage", not necessarily freight trackage only.


Andrew

[Puddlejumper]

Thanks David!
And not to worry - the original call was for "complicated trackage", not necessarily freight trackage only.
Andrew

Yes indeed. While my main goal is for examples to follow for my urban layout, they do not need to be freight only.

Great submissions so far!

Dave

[McGillicutty]

Found this elsewhere and thought of your thread...

[P5se Camelback]

That's INSANE!!!

hock:

... I can't even begin to decide where one would start building that major migraine!!!

[Charlie B]

The 3 track diamond for lack of a better description, and the double diamond over the switch frog to the left are beyond comprehension. What an insulation nightmare for an HO builder, but I imagine most of it was insulated for signals too?
Charlie

[P5se Camelback]

It also looks like there's a very interesting derail on that same left-hand track that pulls the points towards each other ...

... is that really what I'm seeing? :?

[BR60103]

That photo is Newcastle station on the route from London to Edinburgh, I think the north end. The track coming off to the right goes to Scotland; the left tracks go across the Tyne and head to Sunderland. The right hand tracks are electric suburban service.
My 1998 track diagram shows that the station now has 6 through roads, 3 tracks going north and 2 crossing the river. This whole track formation is now 3 double slips and a handful of crossovers.

I wonder if the trackwork was not insulated for signals through the special work, just the plain track on each side.

[Charlie B]

It also looks like there's a very interesting derail on that same left-hand track that pulls the points towards each other ...

... is that really what I'm seeing? :?

I think you are right and there may be one on the next track over, Hard to tell with the digital noise, the rest apear to use the double slips to protect the ???main???
Charlie