Winston Salem District Signals

[NW Mailing List]

Harry,
Yes I did notice those curves!  This is the curviest line I've seen
since I was on the Pokey!  But, I expected that in West Virginia.  But
this hill country has lots of twists and turns.  I even had the whole
entire gang tell me that I had my North and South backwards at Bassett
only to have the foreman of another gang verify my directions were
correct.  The "S" curves around Nylon and Martinsville were also an
easy place to get directions turned around.

Thanks goodness for track charts!

Ben Blevins


On 7/15/09, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

>

>

>

> Ben:

> You're correct, until TC came, the Winston District was?ABS territory with

> hand throw switches.?

> I'm not at home right now, so don't have access to timetables and track

> charts.? You gotta remember

> the Winston District wasn't TC'ed until 1970 (+ or -).? Why ?? Because the

> complexion of traffic on

> the Punk'in Vine underwent a drastic change.? Instead of a three car

> passenger train and merchandise

> trains hauling Camel cigarettes, N&W began hauling?multi-levels to

> Walkertown and 100 car unit

> trains to Duck Power at Belews Creek.? The multitude of 50 and 60 car

> sidings at Boone's Mill,

> Ferrum, Henry and others just didn't chamber the trains that were running.?

> Initially, there were only

> two passing sidings between Roanoke and North Winston.? A third, Philpott,

> was later added.? A

> fourth near MP 12 was proposed, but never built, so it's possible for a

> northbound to be passing

> Rocky Mount that the dispatcher will hold at Wirtz while the train?it's to

> meet is still getting an air

> test at Shaffers Crossing.? The one-way running time Roanoke to Wirtz is

> about 90 minutes.?

>

> As far as PL-1, PL-2, and PL-3 equipment, the Signal Dept.?respaced signals

> on the Norfolk Division

> and the surplus went to the Winston District.

>

> You mentioned Henry -- did you notice three horseshoe curves south of town ?

> ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

> Harry Bundy??????

>