RE: [CBQ] Big Rock IL - Curve 50

[GLEN HAUG <glenehaug@msn.com>]

Michael:
 
The original mainline was concentric with, and at normal track centers with the siding.  In 1937, curve 50 was reduced from 2 degrees (I think, I'm not looking at all my records) to 1 degree.  This resulted in throwing the mainline inward (north) from it's original location.  I'm sure this was in conjunction with raising the Zephyr speed to 90 mph.  A speed above 75 or 80 is not attainable on a 2 degree curve, without 6" or 7" superelevation, and I'm not sure the Q elevated above 6" anyway.  The Q evidently opted for the curve reduction rather than have a speed reduction in otherwise 90 mph territory.  The siding was not relocated, presumably because it was not necessary.
 
If you have a CB&Q alignment chart, you might be able to see if a curve reduction is shown at this location.  The Q referenced many line changes and curve reductions in their alignment charts, but I have noticed that some are not shown if the reduction in distance was less than .01 mile.  The curve reduction at Big Rock resulted in only a 13' reduction.  My recollection is that changes in mileage of .01 mile or greater were reportable to the ICC, so this may have been the criteria for showing them on alignment charts.
 
Glen Haug    
 

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To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
From: mmatalis@sprynet.com
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2012 15:24:40 -0500
Subject: [CBQ] Big Rock IL

 

For a short distance on the east side of Big Rock IL on the C&I there is a large gap between the main line and the siding:

http://goo.gl/maps/kQL8C

Is there any particular reason for this?

Thank you kindly,

Michael Matalis
Downers Grove IL

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