Railroaders' Nostalgia > SP Taylor Top End of "A" Yard Mystery Light

Any of you SP Veterans know what that light on the pole above the second unit's purpose was?
It looks to be and old red oscillating barrel light.
Been there a zillion times and never saw that.
Photo was taken 1964.

TAH

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Come to the hump?

From Colton Subdivision Special Instructions Los Angeles Div. Timetable #8, October 30, 1977:
   
Los Angeles, Top End of "A" Yard: Revolving red light on post top end of "A" yard when displayed will be indication 
    for westward movement to stop clear of any eastward movement until light is extinguished. Oral authority must be 
    obtained from top end "A" yard yardmaster before entering into "A" yard through crossing to make pick up of cars.

Mostly used when YM was unable to contact all crews affected by radio or TEA switchtender was otherwise occupied.
I never looked at the wording too closely while working there but I believe there is a typo in the second sentence.
Trains might enter a yard through a crossover which could be the case at the TEA yard but through a crossing? Train in your photo
appears to be a Chatsworth hauler returning to L.A. with cars from Gemco and was yarding in the "A" yard. Thanks Tom, for the memories.

Charlie

 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/19 19:38 by cewherry.

Thank you for the thorough explanation.

TAH

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Prime example of the marvel of TO! Someone asks about something kind of obscure and gets a prompt bull's eye answer. Love it!

cewherry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> From Colton Subdivision Special Instructions Los
> Angeles Div. Timetable #8, October 30, 1977:
>    
> Los Angeles, Top End of "A" Yard: Revolving red
> light on post top end of "A" yard when displayed
> will be indication 
>     for westward movement to stop clear of any
> eastward movement until light is extinguished.
> Oral authority must be 
>     obtained from top end "A" yard yardmaster
> before entering into "A" yard through crossing to
> make pick up of cars.
>
> Mostly used when YM was unable to contact all
> crews affected by radio or TEA switchtender was
> otherwise occupied.
> I never looked at the wording too closely while
> working there but I believe there is a typo in the
> second sentence.
> Trains might enter a yard through
> a crossover which could be the case at the TEA
> yard but through a crossing? Train in your photo
> appears to be a Chatsworth hauler returning to
> L.A. with cars from Gemco and was yarding in the
> "A" yard. Thanks Tom, for the memories.
>
> Charlie
>
>  

To the right of the photo and out of view was the famous Van De Camps bakery. I spent many early mornings at the top end of A yard waiting for many mainline changes for trains up The coast, Gemco or Bakersfield. The sweet smells emitting from the bakery were fresh cinnamon rolls and other delights. In all the years never saw the redlight in operation.

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