In my timetable from 1952 (ETT #8 - North FL Div) it states - "TWO TRACKS EXTEND BETWEEN BALDWIN, M.P. 652.2 AND M.P. 680.1. TRAINS MUST KEEP TO THE LEFT UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED." - (sorry for caps, but that is how the ETT has it).

Obviously there was some operational reason for left track running through this stretch. Does anyone know what it was?

Thanks

-- Bill Parks (bparks_43@yahoo.com), May 30, 2003

Answers

I seem to remember that there was a center pass track from Lawety to Baldwin in the 60's also.Am I correct?

-- Joseph Oates (jlosal@mindspring.com), June 02, 2003.

I also do not know the answer but will throw in a few observations that may promote thought from some others. The Oct. 30, 1966 timetable states: "Two tracks extend between Baldwin, M. P. 652.2 and M. P. 680.1." No mention of left hand running. How come? Is it possible that CTC was not yet installed in 1952? Lack of CTC would account for a rule to keep to one side or the other (Why left is beyond me.) It seems to me that under bi-directional CTC, such a rule would not serve much purpose because the dispatcher would decide which side the train would travel on and the route would be aligned for the train by the dispatcher. The double masts that Harry mentions were indeed unique. There is a good photo of one on page 23 of William Griffin Jr's SAL book (with geep included running on the right!).

-- Jim Coviello (jcovi60516@apl.com), June 01, 2003.

Bill -- I'll tell you right up front I don't know the answer. There was something about that section of track that really bugged me. The two tracks were signalled for movement in either direction and in accordance with the rules, the signals were placed to the right of the track they goverened -- not on a signal bridge, cantilever or bracket mast, but on an individual mast for each target. Now if you're the engineer of a Geep on a southbound (on the left-hand track) meeting a northbound train of tri-levels on the right-hand track, what kind of contortions do you go through to see the indication ?

-- Harry Bundy (Y6B@aol.com), May 30, 2003.