Nostalgia & History > Dalies, NM - 1954

Auburn Ed's thread on the Western Board (http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3265167) prompted me to repost this 1954 shot taken by my late friend, P. L. "Casey" Brown.

The view is looking east in a bit of a dust storm. Notable are the tower and train order stands. The line to Albuquerque diverges to the left while the double track left-hand running mainline continues down the hill to Belen. The two cantilever signal bridges in the photo lasted until 2011 or 2012.

Wow - neat photo. I've been there several times but never could have imagined how it looked nearly 60 years ago. Thanks for posting!

Great Photo! Never seen the tower before. Great find! The signal bridges were up and in use during my February 17, 2011 visit.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/13 12:23 by Labby.

Thanks for posting.
I see a guard rail on the far left rail. I am presuming this is to pull the wheels away from the right hand (diverging) point of the junction switch on the left hand track here. With all those fast eastbound trains taking the turnout side there would be a lot of wear on the right hand switch point.

What's that sticking up between the
westward main and its siding?

(Looks too close to the siding.)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/13 10:46 by timz2.

timz2 Wrote:
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> What's that sticking up between the
> westward main and its siding?
>
> (Looks too close to the siding.)

I'd guess an early type of flange oiler mechanism, since it's on a
heavily traveled curve?

Looks like a possible trainorder mounting pole, or MIGHT even be for mail? As for the guard rail probably to keep the flange on the none switch point side to help prevent a flange picking the point?
JB

Is it confirmed that the signals have been removed? An exact/close-to date?

Thanks!

Labby Wrote:
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> Is it confirmed that the signals have been
> removed? An exact/close-to date?
>
> Thanks!

Yes, they're gone. Removed around March 2012. Was there in April 2012 and the cut-off cantilevers were lying along the ROW.

Here are some before and after shots. First shot is one of the cantilevers lying on the ground. Next shot is No. 4 in 2004. Last shot is No. 3 on April 2, 2012, after signal changeover.

Kim Heusel



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/13 14:46 by KimHeusel.

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Eleven years later, on June 26, 1965, No. 19 received this clearance and Form 934 at Dalies.

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timz2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What's that sticking up between the
> westward main and its siding?

A PTC radio antenna? ;)

OldPorter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> timz2 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What's that sticking up between the
> > westward main and its siding?
> >
> > (Looks too close to the siding.)
>
> I'd guess an early type of flange oiler mechanism,
> since it's on a
> heavily traveled curve?
> -------------------------------------------------
> 3rdswitch Wrote:
> -------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Looks like a possible trainorder mounting
> > pole, or MIGHT even be for mail?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Does ANYBODY read captions anymore? Just curious...

"...The view is looking east...Notable are the tower and TRAIN ORDER STANDS [my caps]...The line to Albuquerque diverges to the left while the double track left-hand running mainline continues down the hill to Belen..."

Bob

ATSF100WEST......Out

Now that would have been a great tower to be able to spend time in (and with a camera)! A terrific 'look back' picture .....

Interesting photo of Amtrak Train 4 at Dalies, what with the coaches directly behind the 3 engines. I wonder if the train was being hauled backwards, with the transition/sleeper and baggage car on the rear. And if so, I wonder why.

ATSF100WEST Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OldPorter Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > timz2 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > What's that sticking up between the
> > > westward main and its siding?
> > >
> > > (Looks too close to the siding.)
> >
> > I'd guess an early type of flange oiler
> mechanism,
> > since it's on a
> > heavily traveled curve?
> >
> -------------------------------------------------
> > 3rdswitch Wrote:
> >
> -------------------------------------------------
> > -----
> > > Looks like a possible trainorder mounting
> > > pole, or MIGHT even be for mail?
>
> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> . . . .
>
> Does ANYBODY read captions anymore? Just
> curious...
>
> "...The view is looking east...Notable are the
> tower and TRAIN ORDER STANDS ...The line to
> Albuquerque diverges to the left while the double
> track left-hand running mainline continues down
> the hill to Belen..."
>
> Bob
>
> ATSF100WEST......Out

Thanks, Bob. Sometimes it is mighty hard to describe a picture.

I am attaching a shot that may have been taken later that same day looking west. The resolution is very poor, but if you look closely, you can see the train order stand on the south side of the tracks almost bisecting the long gone signal bridge west of the tower.

Also, with regards to the guardrail on the north track in the first photo; there is a crossover switch directly behind the photographer that was used to get the westbound passenger trains coming out from Albuquerque over to the south track.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/13 15:58 by Super_C.

knotch8 Wrote:
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> Interesting photo of Amtrak Train 4 at Dalies,
> what with the coaches directly behind the 3
> engines. I wonder if the train was being hauled
> backwards, with the transition/sleeper and baggage
> car on the rear. And if so, I wonder why.

Hmmmm. Very interesting and I'd never noticed that before. I have a shot of the train as it was coming into Dalies and it looks like there is no baggage car at all. Not sure what was going on that day. Also, I think I said the other shot was taken in 2004. It and this one were actually taken in August 2005.

Kim Heusel

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> Notable are the tower and train order stands.

Next question: why is the TO stand 30 ft tall.

KimHeusel, you're right, the train's simply missing its baggage car. That little window in the front of the first car is the tiny window that's in the front of a transition/sleeper, which would normally be behind the baggage car.

I should have noticed that in the first picture, but it jumped out at me in the head-on picture.

Thanks again for posting these.

timz2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Notable are the tower and train order stands.
>
> Next question: why is the TO stand 30 ft tall.

Light fixture at the top.

B.

etc.

Somebody didn't bring a big enough pickup truck......