Elyria Ohio NS

[Tim-Elyria]

I noticed today that NS is installing what looks to be a 800Mhz antenna near the CSX crossing on Huron St in Elyria Ohio . I wonder if anyone knows what this will be for and if it is really something new or just a repair or replacement , upgrade. NS was replacing or repairing the diamond where the CSX crosses over and cleaned up some brush and now u can see the shack and what looks like a new antenna instal. I would be interested in any info that anyone might have.

[FLRAILMAN]

Norfolk Southern Railway are allocated two 900 MHz frequencies for Lorain County, however the transmitters appear to be located in Avon Lake & Sheffield Lake in Lorian County, Ohio.

WPWN238
911.5 Mhz
918.5 MHz

Is the antenna mounted on the roof of the shelter or near the tracks? Can you post a photo?

FLRAILMAN

[icom1020]

It should be the same as what UP uses to pass on occupancy and control point status. The ATCS monitor uses feed provided by these towers. BNSF uses 160 mhz These are 'codeline' without the previous trackside telegraph poles. The towers are providing the links and talking to each other.

[Tim-Elyria]

the antenna is on a pole about 20 feet tall next to the shack , it looks like a new install on the antenna pole , and i saw the guy installing the antenna yesterday , i will take a better look at the antenna next time i go by there but if memory servs me it was not a very big antenna , maybe 1-2 feet long and white in color

[FLRAILMAN]

Tim, so it's not a yagi but more like a panal antenna? And is it rectangular in shape, vertically polarized & facing the tracks, I would say it's an AEI car tag system however you said that it was on a 20' pole which completely throws me off & the frequencies listed in the various databases don't seem to fit the ATCS bandplan unless things have changed which I wouldn't be surprised. Any chance of a photo?

Automatic Equipment Identification - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Advanced Train Control System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Daves site for ATCS & AEI frequencies

www.dpdproductions.com/page_rrfreqs_nonaar.html

FLRAILMAN

[snjct2000]

So none of this is for voice transmissions anyway, right? Its just a bunch of digital codes that would make no sense if picked up on a scanner.

[Tim-Elyria]

Sorry ,for being so late to reply , been kinda busy , i will try and remember to bring my digial cam and see if i can get a photo over the weekend and get it posted up. But the other day i noticed what looks like another antenna that is possibly abandoned in the same location , not sure what it is either but will get a pic of it too

[FLRAILMAN]

You can ship that abandoned antenna to me if you so desire. LOL, We will be waiting for photos, also did you plug in those frequencies & hear anything?

FLRAILMAN

[Josh]

It's probably ATCS and NS uses 897.9375/935.9375 as its split in most areas as I recall. The antenna at the site you're talking about, if activated (which since it was just installed is probably NOT) you may find sometime soon, it sending data out on 897.9375.

[FLRAILMAN]

Josh, this is truly a puzzle, don't you hate not being there when these mysteries come up?

FLRAILMAN

[Josh]

NS has been adding ATCS to the former Conrail Chicago Line for some time. They finally have Toledo all set up, at least over the past year or so.

I don't know what part of Elyria this is, but I'm guessing it is on a former NW line. NS ATCS installations typically have a tower that has a pivot point in the middle and can be knocked over to work on the antenna before being raised back up and locked. Their antennas are usually smaller and either white or a pale blue color.

A picture would explain it all, I don't think it's that big of a mystery.