Thank you, Glen, for the details. When I talked to you at the Galesburg annual meeting, you indicate that you were writing a bulletin article of Q signaling. Is that still a possibility? While my layout only models Burlington, I would like
to get Wood Tower interlocking and signaling right.
Nelson Moyer
From: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io> On Behalf Of
zephyr98072
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2023 3:35 PM
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Signal Question
The two notes are used to differentiate the limits of CTC on the northbound (NB) and southbound (SB) main tracks. I can't explain why NB and SB were used as opposed to WB and EB. The Ottumwa
Division used Westward and Eastward. The Hannibal to Burlington subdivision of the Hannibal Division used Northward and Southward, and the tracks are physically oriented north and south between Wood Tower and the curve at Main Street.
I also cannot explain why the boundaries of CTC were different, and can only provide a guess. Prior to 1958, the western boundary of CTC was at MP 205.16. The area controlled by Wood Tower had
been an interlocking for many years, and was officially identified as CTC in the timetables in 1937-38. In 1958, CTC was extended from Wood Tower to a few feet west of Mt. Pleasant Street (US 34). Neither Ottumwa or Hannibal timetables show a break in CTC
on the eastward track. I believe the table-model CTC machine controlling the area from Connett to Mt. Pleasant Street was installed in 1958, and I recall seeing a photo of it in a recent Bulletin or Zephyr. If you can find and examine this photo, it may
give a clue regarding what may have been different between MP 205.16 and 205.44 on the eastward track.
Prior to 1958, Ottumwa and Hannibal Division timetables indicate that movement of trains against the current of traffic between Wood Tower and 6th Street will be made on authority of
the yardmaster. The speed of eastward trains on the eastward track from MP 205.44 to 205.13 was 20 mph for passenger trains and "Yd" for freight trains. In 1958 and subsequent timetables, these notes disappear, but there appears to be something still going
on that requires the notation on the 1962 alignment chart. My guess is that it has something to do with the mainline switches to the roundhouse and turntable, and the transfer of authority for their use, from the dispatcher to the yardmaster.
An alignment chart from 1967 shows CTC on both tracks with NO differentiation.
Ottumwa Division, Burlington MP205-210. You’ll have to enlarge it at least 400 times to see the signals clearly. The CTC dates are in the bottom of the page to the extreme right of the chart. There is also a NBCTC abbreviation, but that past my layout date.
Nelson Moyer
Nelson:
I am not familiar with that abbreviation. Let me know which alignment chart page you are looking at, and I will try to figure something out.
Glen Haug