Model Railroading > Imagineering another interlocking on the Wabash Indy Branch

This is one on the top level entering the helix, directly above the one below it at Marion here:    Imagineering another Interlocking (images 305k) (trainorders.com)

The structures here are just borrowed for the mock-up, as they belong at another location, as are the track components except the two code 83, hand-built turnouts. This is where the double track starts into the helix.

(I took a number of modelers' advice and came up with an excuse to double track the helix to ease up congestion.) This is accomplished by the No. 10 wye (equilateral turnout) in the foreground. For now, I suppose I will call this North Marion. The foreign railroad crossing here (NYC-NKP) will be live with a reversing loop to get the trains back to the yard.

You will note there is an interchange track. And the spur leading off in the opposite direction will service a gravel pit. Working semaphore signals are planned here too. There will be no home signals for the foreign road as they can't be seen anyway. Though it seems uneconomical, it was common for the Wabash to start double track this way with more diamonds at a manned interlocking. I know of several examples.

I suppose I could have posed another opposing Wabash train here, waiting to get on the double track. That's why I look forward to getting the interlockings going!

Victor



Edited 8 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/21 20:37 by wabash2800.

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Is that one of Bill Clouser's Wabash resin depots?

It is a Bronze Key Model kit I built and painted. It will be at my interlocking where the Wabash Indy Branch crosses the Erie at Markle, Indiana. I plan on scrathbuilding a smaller frame structure with a bay window in the corner for this location.

Victor

The depot looks familiar. :)

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That's a great photo Jet. My understanding is the depot at North Judson was built from scratch by the historical society. Many of the C&O and Wabash frame depots were similar.

Victor



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/21 20:43 by wabash2800.

It's still a mock-up, but I added No. 13 in this photo, the Indianapolis Limited (Toledo-Indy). The tower operator is going to have to answer for holding up the passenger train (and the Redball Wabash freight waiting to pass him) for an NYC freight...

Victor



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/21 09:19 by wabash2800.

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That NYC F unit is in for a hard stop :-). I always felt doing this type of planning to be one of the funnest aspects of the hobby.

Yes, I will have to reinforce the L girder and make a hole in it to start the reversing loop. The loop will be mostly under the peninsula attached to the underside of the 1-1/2 turn helix on the end of the peninsula. The switch will not be back there but on this side of the diamond to be accessible. I plan on controlling the loop automatically with a spring switch and automatic polarity reverser. I should be able to serial stage two trains back there (one NKP and one NYC).

Victor

ChrisCampi Wrote:
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> That NYC F unit is in for a hard stop :-). I
> always felt doing this type of planning to be one
> of the funnest aspects of the hobby.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/21 09:37 by wabash2800.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> It's still a mock-up, but I added No. 13 in this
> photo, the Indianapolis Limited (Toledo-Indy). The
> tower operator is going to have to answer for
> holding up the passenger train (and the Redball
> Wabash freight waiting to pass him) for an NYC
> freight...

No, the towerman is covered. The roadmaster, on the other hand....

TAW



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/21 10:18 by TAW.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> (I took a number of modelers' advice and came up
> with an excuse to double track the helix to ease
> up congestion.) This is accomplished by the No. 10
> wye (equilateral turnout) in the foreground.

A realism detail, the railroad would probably not use four diamonds instead of two to put the end double track turnout on the far side of the crossing. If you could find a reason for a pocket on the far side of the diamond, maybe move the equilateral turnout back enough to hold a local passenger train between the diamond and the turnout, with signals placed to create the pocket for a train, it would look better.

TAW

Like I wrote Tom, this was not unheard of on the Wabash. I can come up with three examples. Hugo, near Fort Wayne, Indiana on the west end of Wabash double track where they crossed the NKP Branch was very similar until N&W simplified it. Also Wolcottville, Indiana and Cecil, Ohio were similar in an earlier era. But the double track (on a single track RR) extended out a ways to form running tracks on both sides of the diamonds. There is another more modern Wabash example, but I can't remember the location off the top of my head. Yes, particularly today, less diamonds are better.

Attached is the signaling arrangement (signals in black). The interchange track switch, outside of the plant, is not signaled or controlled by the tower operator.

Victor

TAW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wabash2800 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > (I took a number of modelers' advice and came
> up
> > with an excuse to double track the helix to
> ease
> > up congestion.) This is accomplished by the No.
> 10
> > wye (equilateral turnout) in the foreground.
>
> A realism detail, the railroad would probably not
> use four diamonds instead of two to put the end
> double track turnout on the far side of the
> crossing. If you could find a reason for a pocket
> on the far side of the diamond, maybe move the
> equilateral turnout back enough to hold a local
> passenger train between the diamond and the
> turnout, with signals placed to create the pocket
> for a train, it would look better.
>
> TAW



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/21 11:51 by wabash2800.

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Maybe doing it this way effectively doubles the life of the diamonds?

????

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> ????

He means instead of all traffic over one diamond it will be directional: eb over 1 diamond, wb over the other.

Posted from Android

True, but you still have the expense of two diamonds.

Victor

cnr6776 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wabash2800 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ????
>
> He means instead of all traffic over one diamond
> it will be directional: eb over 1 diamond, wb over
> the other.
>
> Posted from Android

This is a great idea for a freelance route in prototype railroading. Nobody had a direct single line route Ft. Wayne-Indianapolis.

Posted from Android