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From: "David J DOT Monte Verde" dmvgvt AT earthlink DOT net
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 01:44:14 -0400
Subject: Re: (erielack) Laurel Line Tunnel
"Laurel_Line_Tunnel.jpg" - image/jpeg, 72241 bytes, 455x352 (24bit)

Gentlemen: The tunnel was a gauntlet, see the attached before & after
photos. Regards David MV


----- Original Message -----
From: "William Gallagher WA3RA"
To: ;
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 11:01 PM
Subject: Re: (erielack) Laurel Line Tunnel


> Chuck,
> Do you have the book 'Laurel Line'? They describe the early staff method,
> and the later telephone to the dispatcher method.
>
> They have construction and operating photos of the tunnel, and it
definitely
> started out gauntleted.
>
> They mention in the book when the gauntlet was removed, and the track was
> signalled...but every northbound train still had to stop and call the
> dispatcher I'll have to get my copy out and see when that was...but IIRC,
it
> was pre- WWII, after one of the major accidents.
>
> Bill G.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> To:
> Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 7:51 PM
> Subject: (erielack) Laurel Line Tunnel
>
>
> > My grandmother lived about two blocks from the south end of the Laurel
> Line
> > tunnel and after watching stuff go in and out of the tunnel for about 20
> > years I would offer the following:
> >
> > The tunnel was never gauntleted in all the years I saw it. Might have
been
> at
> > one time but I doubt it. The single track extended from the spring
switch
> at
> > the south portal to the power house about 1/4 mile from the north end.
> >
> > There was only one third rail through the tunnel. What appears as two
> third
> > rails in photos of the south portal is simply the normal arrangement of
> the
> > third rail at any track switch.
> >
> > Clearance through the tunnel was controlled by the despatcher /
operator
> in
> > the small brick structure just under the Spruce Street bridge. South
bound
> > cars and trains stopped at the structure and received clearance. North
> bound
> > trains stopped just past the South Scranton station stop outside the
> tunnel
> > where the conductor phone the despatcher. after he got clearance he
closed
> > the derail by operating a manual switchstand. The car moved over the
> derail
> > after which the conductor opened and locked the derail, then boarded the
> car
> > and the it proceeded into the tunnel. All this was protected by block
> signals
> > tied to the derail, etc.
> >
> > I have been told by old timers that at one time there was a staff system
> in
> > operation and movements could only be made through the tunnel if they
had
> the
> > "key". Another interesting fact was that as long as the line ran
> passenger
> > service the alternate, orginal route up over the mountain paralleling
the
> > Erei tracks was maintained for emergency use.
> >
> > Chuck Yungkurth
> > Boulder CO
> >
>


Laurel_Line_Tunnel.jpg

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