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<br>
<STRONG>Frank-</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Without going to my ACL timetables, I'm not sure whether ACL</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>was equipped for Automatic Train Control or Automatic Train</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Stop. There are minor differences in the two systems. Some-</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>time after N&W's application, the ATC system was modified.</STRONG> </div>
<div><STRONG>Apparently the engines assigned to the "short runs" and the</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><EM>Cannonball</EM>- Broad </STRONG><STRONG>Street Station (Richmond) to Petersburg over</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>the ACL would </STRONG><STRONG>not integrate with the system on the Shenandoah Division.</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>In the final days of steam, N&W had streamlined K's equipped for</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>ACL service - Nos. 121-122-123. Strictly </STRONG><STRONG>from memory, it was GP9 503</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>that was equipped during </STRONG><STRONG>diesel days. There was a test track near </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Appomattox Station </STRONG><STRONG>in Petersburg for ACL's system. Remember,</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>the K's didn't </STRONG><STRONG>go to Acca for service during the layover in Richmond, so</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Petersburg had to test for signals.</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG></STRONG> </div>
<div><STRONG>The maximum authorized speed for diesel-powered ACL passenger</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>trains (in ATC or ATS) territory was 90 MPH. In the final days of</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>ACL Nos. 87/88 (The all <EM>pullman </EM>Florida Special<U>)</U>, I plunked down</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>the premium fare and bought a seat in a roomette Richmond-</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Rocky Mount just to see what kind of show ACL would put on.</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>In the midst of a snow storm, the signal system failed and No. 87</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>moved signal-to-signal at restricted speed. The conductor noted</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>that if I'd been on a merry-go-round, I'd have to pay extra for the</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>ride time. Harry Bundy</STRONG></div>