What a fantastic shot of street-running trackage I was never fortunate enough to shoot before its demise; and in the original Milwaukee days, to boot. Thank you for sharing!
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| Posted by bradley on October 27, 2016 | |
That would have been interesting to watch, but I would think from an operational standpoint, this area must have been hated. Can you imagine the delays from running a train controlled by automobile stoplights? Wouldn't be surprised to hear that after the last train through here, the dispatcher that had to work with it jumped for joy.
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Such an awesome shot. WOW!
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I would have hoped that the traffic lights 'favored' rail traffic - otherwise I would doubt that the train could stop/start quickly enough to even get out of town! Nice shot!
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Those were the days!
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| Posted by on October 27, 2016 | |
I was Road Foreman for the MILW/SOO South Eastern Division (CTH&SE) from Chicago to Bedford in 85/86 and as I recall the train operation did not follow the"traffic light" signals for vehicular traffic but the line had automatic block semaphore signals on the old Monon(L&N) at the time. Our trains went around a 100 car balloon track on the north side of town at the old Milwaukee Road yard before entering the (L&N) trackage. Our line(MILW) originally went all the way to Seymour,IN..
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As I understand it Tom, the traffic signals were interfaced with a track circuit so, as long as everything was working properly, a train would run on "green lights" all the way along J Street, with the traffic lights on the intersecting streets showing red to stop crossing vehicular traffic until the train cleared. J Street was a one-way street southbound, thus the unique traffic lights visible in the photo that have the normal R/Y/G setup for southbound vehicular traffic and only a green light for northbound railroad traffic.
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Ah, I got it Tom and Chris. The train would be going one-way (with vehicular traffic here) and would have a green as interfaced with rail traffic. Likewise, if going 'against vehicular traffic' it would still have the single green light (Hence, no other traffic signal colors) Thanks guys!
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Great pic and explanation of the signaling. What struck me though are the 3 General Motors "Land Yachts" that were still roaming the highways and byways of this great country back in the day. Cool picture.
Thanks for sharing it.
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It's still difficult to imagine the Milwaukee Road running in to southern Indiana. Thank you for sharing the picture!
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| Posted by bradley on October 28, 2016 | |
Deval, isn't their 4 GM land yachts in this picture?
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Wonderful Pic !!!
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| Posted by Paul on November 1, 2016 | |
Ok the Red car is park the wrong way. Great photo.
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| Posted by Torker on May 8, 2017 | |
Now this looks like my old home town (Hartford, WI).
I love the photo, and the explanation.
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