Amtk NEC Interlockings

[cipher66]

Hello all,

Just curious if anyone has the most recent listing of the interlockings on the Northeast Corridor? I have (old) track diagrams, etc... but as I said, they're - OLD. Anyways, planning a trip down 95 from Providence to my parents in Aberdeen, MD and looking for the new ones.

Also, while I'm on the subject, does anyone have any of the CETC schematic diagrams? When CETC-Philly first became operational in the 80's they released a schematic map of their territoy to the, now obsolete, block operators. They were not drawn to scale and only showed the actual schematic of the "big board" at CETC but were very handy for rail scanning. As far as I can tell from open sources, there are basically 4 major control centers on the NEC:

1- CETC 1-2-3-4-5-6-Philly
2- CETC 7-8 Philly?
3- PSCC Pennstation CC (apparently a joint LIRR/Amtk venture)
4- CETC Boston (apparently a joint MBTA/Amtk venture)

Anyways, anyone that can assist - Thanks

PK

 

[erikTromatowski]

7, 8, Sect. A and B, and PSCC are all in NYP. Here are all Interlockings from New York to Philly, and who thier Controled by (CETC7 and north is on 161.010. CETC 6 and south is on 160.920. Cant help you with North of NYP, sorry). I'll try to post scanned photos of NJT track diagrams, detailing Philly to New York as soon as I get a chance.

A (0.2) - PSCC - Unknown
BERGEN (3.7) - PSCC - tower standing, unused
ALLIED (4.0) - Sec. A - tower standing, unused
PORTAL (6.0) - Sec. A - tower standing, unused
SWIFT (7.2) - Sec. B - No tower
HUDSON (7.8) - Sec. B - tower standing, unused
DOCK (8.5) - Dock - Standing and used
CLIFF (9.7) - Dock - tower demolished
HUNTER (10.5) - Dock - tower demolished
HAYNES (11.3) - Dock - tower demolished
LANE (12.3) - Dock - tower demolished
ELMORA (14.7) - Union - tower demolished
UNION (19.7) - Union - Standing and used
ISLIN (22.8) - CETC 8 - No tower
MENLO (23.3) - CETC 8 - No tower
LINCOLN (26.0) - CETC 8 - tower standing, unused
EDISON (28.1) - CETC 8 - formerly controled by LINCOLN
COUNTY (32.8) - CETC 8 - tower standing, unused
MIDWAY (41.3) - CETC 8 - tower standing, unused
***NASSAU - Was located at Princeton Jct, since removed. Tower standing
HAM (55.7) - CETC 7 - tower standing, unused
FAIR (56.4) - CETC 7 - tower standing, unused
MORRIS (58.3) - CETC 7 - tower standing, unused
GRUNDY (65.3) - CETC 6 - Unknown
CROY (68.3) - CETC 6 - Unknown
HOLMES (77.2) - CETC 6 - tower standing, unused
SHORE (82.1) - CETC 6 - Unknown
NORTH PHILADELPHIA (85.0) - CETC 6 - tower standing, unused
MANTUA (87.2) - CETC 6 - Formerly controled by ZOO
GIRARD (87.7)- CETC 6 - FOrmerly controled by ZOO
ZOO (88.0) - CETC 5 - tower standing, unused

 

[cipher66]

Wow! Thanks Eric. I'm surprised to see Union and Dock still being manned. I used to spend my time and radio listening in the Perryville and Edgewood areas (where I'm from) as a younger lad when everything was on 160.800. My Dad and I visited all towers from K-Tower in DC to As far north as Union Tower on the PRR main, then we also visited Shell and Pike on the MNCRR.

 

[erikTromatowski]

As you can see, made some additions :wink:

 

[Dogface]

MORRIS (58.3) -

GRUNDY (65.3) - CETC 6 - Unknown
CROY (68.3) - CETC 6 - Unknown
HOLMES (77.2) - CETC 6 - tower standing, unused
SHORE (82.1) - CETC 6 - Unknown

Shore Tower is still standing. They were using the lower floor for storage but the building is in poor shape.

I do not remember Croy and I do not think there is a tower standing anywhere near Croyden, PA.

Grundy was standing last year but I have not been up there since then.

Holmes is the second floor of Holmesburg Station. It will proably be around for awhile.

 

[cipher66]

Just to show the diffrence between NEC now and then, here is the interlocking list for the same area in 1984:

A - (0.2) Tower & Interlocking
Bergen - (3.7) Remote Interlocking from 'A"
Portal- (6.0) Tower & Interlocking
Hudson-(8.6) Tower & Interlocking
Dock- (8.5) Tower & Interlocking
Hunter- (10.5) Tower & Interlocking
Lane-(12.3) Tower & Interlocking
Elmora-(14.7) Tower & Interlocking
Union-(19.7) Tower & Interlocking
Lincoln-(26.0) Tower & Interlocking
Edison-(28.1) Remote Interlocking from "Lincoln"
County-(32.8) Tower & Interlocking
Midway-(41.3) Tower & Interlocking
Nassau-(46.9) Tower & Interlocking
Fair-(56.4) Tower & Interlocking
Morris-(58.3) Tower & Interlocking
Grundy-(65.3) Tower & Interlocking
Holmes-(77.2) Tower & Interlocking
Ford-(81.2) Remote Interlocking from "Shore"
Shore-(82.1) Tower & Interlocking
North Philadelphia-(85.0) Tower & Interlocking
Zoo-(88.0) Tower & Interlocking
Penn-(New MP from Zoo 1.5) Tower (actually a room) & Interlocking

The NEC sure has changed in the last few years in operations and interlockings

PK

 

[erikTromatowski]

Kinekep,

Things sure have changed! Any idea how it was dispatched back in the day? Like, how was the dispatcher, tower, etc all set up? Seems like its a lot simpiler now!

 

[cipher66]

Kinekep,

Things sure have changed! Any idea how it was dispatched back in the day? Like, how was the dispatcher, tower, etc all set up? Seems like its a lot simpiler now!

Well, from recollection, the dispatchers were located in Philly, New York, and Boston (and I seem to recall a Baltimore dispatcher as well, but I might be mistaken). The dispatchers used large train time sheets (of paper) and recorded the times that trains passed certain points (usually, block stations). The block operators (BO's) were in direct control of the RR for their area's and called the dispatcher all the time (and other block stations) with times and info. If a train was to be routed onto a diffrent track that wasn't covered in a "standing order" then the dispatcher would telephone the block operator that controlled the interlocking where the crossover would happen and issue a train order which the BO would actually write down on a form. Depending on the type of train, etc... the train order would be passed verbally over the radio or actually passed up to the engineer on the fly with a Y shaped stick. The BO would then set the switches and signals for it to take effect.

I agree, that from an efficiency standpoint, the NEC "should" be easier to control from a dispatcher point of view now than in the past. :wink:

I'll post the complete list of interlockings from DC to philly from 1986 also along with notes soon.

 

[cipher66]

List of interlockings (1976) from Washington DC to Philadelphia.....

K - Tower and Interlocking at Union Station/DC
C - Remote interlocking from "K"
Landover - Tower and Interlocking
Lanham - Remote Interlocking from "Landover" (replaced by Carroll)
Bowie - Tower and Interlocking
Odenton - Tower and Interlocking (Replaced by Grove)
Vern - Remote interlocking from Odenton (Replaced by Grove)
Winans - Remote interlocking from Gwynn
Gwynn - Tower and Interlocking (Removed/Replaced by Bridge)
Fulton - Remote interlocking from B&P Junction
B&P Junction - Tower & Interlocking (South side of Balto station - removed/renamed to Charles)
Union Junction - Tower & Interlocking (North side of Balto Station - removed/renamed Paul and Biddle)
Canton - Remote interlocking from Bay (Removed)
Bay - Tower & Interlocking
North Point - Remote Interlocking from Bay
River - Remote interlocking from Bay
Gunpow - Remote interlocking from Edgewood
Magnolia - Remote interlocking from Egdewood
Edgewood - Tower & Interlocking
Bush - Remote interlocking from Edgewood
Short Lane - Remote interlocking from Perryville (Removed)
Oak - Remote interlocking from Perryville
Havre De Grace - Remote interlocking from Perryville
Perryville - Tower and Interlocking
Principio - Remote interlocking from Perryville
North East - Remote interlocking from Davis (replaced by Bacon)
Iron Hill - Remote interlocking from Davis
Davis - Tower & interlocking
Ragan - Remote interlocking from Wilmington
West Yard - Remote interlocking from Wilmington
Wilmington - Tower (room in station off nbound platform) & interlocking
Landlith - Remote interlocking from Wilmington
Bell - Tower & Interlocking (My personal favorite)
Hook - Tower & interlocking
Lamokin - Tower & Interlocking
Baldwin - Tower & Interlocking
Brill - Tower & Interlocking
Arsenal - Tower & Interlocking
Penn - Tower (room) & Interlocking (30th St Station Lower Level)

 

[railroader82]

I'd type the 2006 version with all the changes, but I think I'd get carpal tunnel!!!

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi guys,

I'm not sure but I think Dock is connected somehow with a bridge which is why it's still manned. Of course Union is, that's where A & B tracks diverge and become the NJT North Jersey Coast Line. It's always been the busiest interlocking and now shared between Amtrak and NJT it's seeing more traffic now than ever before. Located between Rahway Station and Inman Avenue where the tracks diverge it was my home away from home when I was growing up and I have fond memories of watching operations while listening to the "***** box" as the operator called the radio.

"I'd type the 2006 version with all the changes, but I think I'd get carpal tunnel!!!"

Railroader, considering the territory it's properly known as Portal, there's no Carpal on that line. Oh, it's not far from Hudson but that's PATH and Bergen is abandoned. (;->) That's an interesting avatar but I don't recognize it. If it had catenary I'd almost swear it was Midway Tower.

 

[railroader82]

Close. Its actually by Edison Interlocking, however my camera phone's overexposure omitted the catenary.
Dock is by far busier than Union.
Don't forget Dock controls the following interlockings:
Rea, Hudson, Dock, Cliff, Hunter, Haynes, Lane