Nostalgia & History > SP freight arriving at Schellville Yard 1962

Caboose 1299 a regular on the Oakland to Schellville train arrives at the Schellville Yard back in 1962.

Robert Morris Photography
http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/index1.html

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Good memories Bob. I have a shot or two at the same spot, only the power was headed north. It's probably close to becoming "Lake Schellville" again.

What is the low switch stand ih the forgtround.
Also the raised guard rail to protect the points?
Is it a derail/

--Jim Baker

I LOVE IT...the early 60's was a great era for rolling stock in general. The 1299 is a classic example of the SP bay window. Bob, thanks for sharing some SP memories.

Kent in Carmel Valley

JimBaker Wrote:
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> What is the low switch stand ih the forgtround.
> Also the raised guard rail to protect the points?
> Is it a derail/
>
> --Jim Baker
\
Most likely a derail

JimBaker Wrote:
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> What is the low switch stand in the forgtround.
> Also the raised guard rail to protect the points?
> Is it a derail/
>
> --Jim Baker


I believe that switch is the inside switch of a crossover from the yard to the mainline. There were 2 tracks that went through the highway crossing (behind Bob) past the station, plus the wye track that was really the SP main to Lombard. I think the track closest Bob would have been the yard lead/house track that continued straight past the station. I don't know when but I believe the layout was later changed and the crossover was eliminated in favor of a turnout with a second turnout off the main to enter the house track.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/07/12 19:57 by Railbaron.

JimBaker Wrote:

> What is the low switch stand ih the forgtround.
> Also the raised guard rail to protect the points?
> Is it a derail/

I can't speak to SP practice, but on Santa Fe, when two switches were in close proximity such that one target might obscure the other, the standard plans called for one "High Star" and one "Low Star" stand as illustrated in the photo. I've seen switchpoint guardrails on normal SP switches too, so the short stand in the foreground could well be a just normal turnout.

Its amazing to see that Yard full, while today its got nothing I bet

miralomarail Wrote:
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> Its amazing to see that Yard full, while today its
> got nothing I bet

There's a few items there. The new NWP stores interchanged cars here that are destined for Petaluma, and there are some old locomotives rotting away...

Rick Selby
Redmond, WA
Pacific Northwest RPM

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I believe that is a crowder, not a derail. They are still used to make sure the wheels are over far enough not to pick the points. A new one was recently installed west of where I live however it was place close to a derail to make sure the wheels went over the derail. This one protects the switch points.

dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
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> I believe that is a crowder, not a derail. They
> are still used to make sure the wheels are over
> far enough not to pick the points. A new one was
> recently installed west of where I live however it
> was place close to a derail to make sure the
> wheels went over the derail. This one protects the
> switch points.


Crowder. That's a new one on me. I guess that must be an eastern term? On the west coast they are referred to as point guards, and their purpose is, as you said, to protect the switch points.


V

SLOCONDR

RAS Wrote:
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> miralomarail Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Its amazing to see that Yard full, while today
> its
> > got nothing I bet
>
> There's a few items there. The new NWP stores
> interchanged cars here that are destined for
> Petaluma, and there are some old locomotives
> rotting away...

What a sad, sad, picture. It would be nice to see the F's and the SD's saved even if just in a static display. But, knowing today's youth they probably wouldn't fare any better behind a fence.

Larry Dodgion
Wilsonville, OR