N&W Three-Arm Position Light Signals

[NW Mailing List]

As I recall, the N&W movie "The Modern Coal Burning Steam Locomotive," made 
c. 1942, shows some three-arm position light signals, possibly on the 
Pocahontas Division.

Louis Newton

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> Today's Topics:

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>   1. Firm Date for Last N&W Telegraph: 3-16-1960 (NW Mailing List)

>   2. N&W Three-Arm Position Light Signals (NW Mailing List)

>

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> Message: 1

> Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2011 19:27:19 +0000 (UTC)

> From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Subject: Firm Date for Last N&W Telegraph: 3-16-1960

> To: N&W Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

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> <77577161.581683.1322940439924.JavaMail.root at sz0174a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>

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> Cleaning out the basement has produced some treasures! One was a small 

> typewritten note from Harry C. Clark, who taught me telegraphy.

>

>

> Harry had learned telegraphy at the Dodge Telegraph School in Valparaiso, 

> in 1920. Thereafter he telegraphed for a total of 16 different companies 

> (railroads, Western Union, brokerages, and even a shoe company!) all over 

> the West, and even in Mexico. In the 1940s he came home to West Virginia 

> and "settled down" to a job on the N&W (at one time holding the Agent's 

> job at Roderfield.) Like many men with good telegraph skills, he "bid 

> into" GM Telegraph Office ("GM" for "General Manager's") in General Office 

> Building at Roanoke, because it was clean, regular and good paying work. 

> He retired in the late 1960s.

>

>

> In the mid-1970s, I asked Harry if he knew the date the last telegraph 

> circuit was discontinued on the N&W. He responded, "Not exactly, but I can 

> get it for you from the man who was Manager of GM at that time... he made 

> notes on everything." I wish I could recall the name of that fellow whom 

> Harry consulted, but the years have taken it from me! Anyway, the next 

> time I saw Harry, he handed me a small piece of paper on which had been 

> typed these words, by the man who had been Manager of GM:

>

>

> "Last telegraph wire in Roanoke

> on N&W Ry., GM Office, was discontinued

> March 16, 1960.

> This wire was known to Operators in GM

> as the Cincinnati circuit. Business was

> handled between:

> GM N&W Ry Roanoke

> PD NYC Cincinnati

> SG B&O Cincinnati

> GC CUT Cincinnati Union Terminal"

>

>

> -- abram burnett

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> Message: 2

> Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2011 20:52:09 +0000 (UTC)

> From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Subject: N&W Three-Arm Position Light Signals

> To: N&W Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

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>

> For a short period of time the N&W used Position Light Signals equipped 

> with three arm ("heads," of one wants to use the "foamer" term.) Aspects 

> for these three-arm PL signals appear in the 1945 Rule Book, but 

> photographs of any of them in service seem to be almost non-existent. 

> Three-arm PL aspects were not shown in the 1951 Rule Book.

>

>

> A dozen years ago, Mr. Ben Blevins determined, by examining holes and 

> fixtures on the signal masts, that the >> distant << signals to Abingdon, 

> Meadow View, Chillhowie, Seven Mile Ford, McMullin, Marion, Atkins, Rural 

> Retreat, Wytheville, Clark and Wurno had been equipped with three arms 

> PLUS a bottom marker light. Mind you, this information concerns only the 

> DISTANT signals to the interlocking signals, and NOT the home signals. The 

> home signals at these interlockings had only two arms, according to his 

> examinations. I believe there is also a photograph taken near Villamont 

> that shows a streamlined passenger engine with a three-arm PL signal in 

> the background.

>

>

> I am attaching a photograph of a three-arm PL signal with a bottom marker 

> light, taken at Home Creek. This photograph came from the Union Switch & 

> Signal Co. archives. Perhaps His Excellency, the List Editor, can find 

> some way to include a link to it, so that all interested readers may see 

> the photograph.

>

>

> So, I think what needs to be done at this point is to catalog the places 

> where these things were used on the N&W. And therefore I ask, does anyone 

> have information on the location of other three-arm PL signals on the 

> N&W... and hopefully photographs ? And of those of you who stomp around in 

> the N&WHS Archives at West Roanoke, I ask if you have seen any reference 

> to these interesting creatures in the Standard Plans or correspondence 

> files?

>

>

> -- abram burnett

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