• All things Harrisburg (Keystone) Line

  • Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.
Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.

Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman

  by STrRedWolf
 
NortheastTrainMan wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2024 7:06 pm In all seriousness, I remember hearing of SEPTA going back to Coatesville as a terminus, but when I saw the track layout I was confused. Perhaps the interlocking isn't complete and there will be a full 3 track crossover. Because as it is now, it looks like it could tie up the system, and / or just have SEPTA trains waiting on the center track.
From the video, I saw that there was some extra track there that could allow it be turned into a full interlock.
  by NortheastTrainMan
 
This past Friday Oct 11, 2024, I took a trip (by train, of course) to Harrisburg for a book festival. My trains were Keystone 607 & 650. Along the way I noticed a few interesting things:
To Harrisburg (Keystone 607)
- Catenary removed on Track 1 at Lancaster, presumably for reconstruction. I noticed some workers on platforms / lifts where the catenary used to be. It was my first time seeing anything like that in person.
- Wrong railing from ROY to STATE / Harrisburg. We moved west on Track 2.

Eastbound (Keystone 650)
- Wrong Railing from Harrisburg / STATE to RHEEMS (IIRC). I understood it between ROY & RHEEMS due to construction. But not STATE & ROY. Perhaps it didn't make a difference since we wound up meeting a westbound Keystone at Mount Joy anyway.
- Wrong Railing from PARK to THORN. My YouTube Video -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu4i0ldm_tc. FYI my YouTube video has chapters in case you don't want to watch the whole 15 minute video.

So, the latter (PARK to THORN) wrong railing was a tad unusual and a first for me. Given 650 stops at Exton, I knew the next optimal crossover would be at THORN. But I knew THORN was SLOW, it's like 15 MPH, vs flying through on 1 at 90 MPH or whatever the MAS is. It was either that, or switch over at FRAZER. THORN made more sense. I guess DOWNS could work too, maybe?

Looking back, I'm not 100% sure why we wrong railed. 99% makes me think it's because of the SEPTA train that occupied Track 1 at Thorndale. But there's a 1% chance it could be due to track work. Given I was sitting on the opposite side, I didn't see what was happening on 4 between PARK & THORN.

Aside from the move itself being unorthodox, we had to wait about 5-10 minutes at THORN before we went through the interlocking. I'm a little confused by this, because AFAIK we were the only two trains there, plus wouldn't it be apparent that an eastbound Amtrak train was fast approaching on 4? I was surprised we didn't just slow to 15 MPH and proceed through.

Could it be because eastbound crossovers at THORN (1 to 4) are more rare than westbound crossovers (4 to 1)? IIRC SEPTA trains that use Track 4 at Thorndale, may crossover to 1 at THORN, or possibly wrong rail to GLEN. I'm not 100% sure on that though.

In any case, I say all that to say, no two days are alike on the railroad & i crossed taking a diverging move at THORN off my bucket list :-D .
  by CNJGeep
 
Tie work between Park and Caln on No. 1, everything is running on No. 4 between Park and Thorn. The best signal you'll get going east at thorn to cross over 4-1 is a restricting or a slow approach. It is actually the inverse which is true, 4-1 westbound crossovers are less frequent and a truly Godawful move. Usually there's a few septas that will do that in the afternoon
  by NortheastTrainMan
 
CNJGeep wrote: Sun Oct 13, 2024 9:15 pm Tie work between Park and Caln on No. 1, everything is running on No. 4 between Park and Thorn. The best signal you'll get going east at thorn to cross over 4-1 is a restricting or a slow approach. It is actually the inverse which is true, 4-1 westbound crossovers are less frequent and a truly Godawful move. Usually there's a few septas that will do that in the afternoon
Ah! I see. I unfairly blamed the SEPTA train.
Regarding crossing over at THORN 4-1, I'm somewhat surprised the dwarf doesn't display Slow Clear. I never got a good look at it in person, but I thought all dwarfs (PL-4 Pennsy Signals) displayed stop, slow clear, slow approach & restricting. Similar to the ones at JAY Interlocking in Queens, NY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVKJ6Bzvjxs

Moreover I'm surprised that 1-4 crossover (eastbound i presume) is used more than 4-1 westbound. I'm aware of some of the SEPTA local trains you mentioned that terminate at Thorndale go 4-1.
Here's an example of one from Jersey Mike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGF3egNHbk8

I think the SEPTA trains that go 1-4 are the express push pull trains. Once they discharge passengers on 4, they deadhead and cross to 1.

THORN altogether just looks unfavorable to make a diverging move. Is there a preferred way to diverge at all? I imagine it was a bit more seamless in the Pennsy days. But in 2024, trains move like Gary from Spongebob through there. It's like, imagine COUNTY having 15 MPH diverging moves. YIKES. Obviously they're 2 different locations with different demands, but you get the point.

Thanks for chiming in.
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