Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum Home Ghost Train Journal Back Issues
| Jeffrey Ricard, Editor | Volume 6, Number 3, March 1998 |
| More Material Moved from Connecticut Central
RR
By Bill Jeske On Saturday February 14, a crew of volunteers from the museum made one more and possibly the last trip to the Connecticut Central Railroad. I say the last because the Connecticut Central has been purchased by the Providence and Worcester Railroad with takeover due this spring. Our thanks go out to Francis Saunders and Steve Loomis for supplying the museum with lots of track materials over the years. The crew left Willimantic at 8 a.m. and arrived at Middletown at about 9 a.m. At Middletown we loaded about 40 switch timbers onto Maurice Bisson's dump truck and trailer. Also obtained were 3 switch stands, two 55 gallon drums of spikes, assorted track bolts, and tie plates. We returned at about noon and with the help of Maurice's front end loader the ties were unloaded and neatly stacked in the museum storage area. Members making this journey were Morgan Steele, Howard Bidwell, Jeff Ricard, Jeff Laverty, Mark Granville, Jerry Griffin, Dirk Ras, Maurice Bisson, and Bill Jeske. This trip was very useful namely for the switch timbers. Until this time the museum had very few of these and to go out and purchase these would be very expensive. A set of switch timbers goes for about $5,000. Thanks to all who participated. |
WELCOME NEW MEMBERSPlease welcome 8 new members to our chapter. The eight members were voted into the chapter at the February meeting. William Jenkins, George Linsley, Edward and Martha Beale, William and Audrey Robinson, George and Barbara Brown.On the Editors Desk ...... In the February issue of the Ghost
Train Journal it was mentioned that we would need help to setup for the
show on March 21. That was incorrect. We need members to help
setup tables for the show on March 20th, Friday evening at 5:30p.m.
All members that can spare the time are needed to help with this
effort. We will then need members to show up on early on Sunday March
22nd to help vendors unload and setup. Again the more members
the better. We will also need people to help with parking, working
the door and to work at the chapter table. This is our biggest fundraiser
and we need all members to come out and participate in this endeavor.
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| The executive committee has
been working on some new chapter stationary over the past few weeks.
A design was submitted to the chapter for approval at the last regular
meeting in February and again at the business meeting in March.
The new stationary now includes the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum
and our logo along with the national logo. We hope to have final
approval at the March meeting.
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And finally, thanks to all the
members that were involved in getting the Groton Freight House moved to
our museum site. Yes the building arrived by truck on February 11,
1998 with little problem. Currently the building remains on the trailer
and is in the process of being secured. The trailer will remain until
the owner needs it again. This will make it easy for us to move to
the rear of the site at its final destination. Hopefully we will
get the fencing money and be able to complete the move. The buildings
roof had to be removed for moving and will be replaced by members over
the next few weeks. Come down and check out this historic building.
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| Paul Shamonis has been busy working on our rule book. Here are
some definitions that you should be aware of:
BLOCKS Block: A length of track of defined limits. The use of which by trains and engines is governed by block signals, cab signals or both. Absolute Block: A block which may be occupied by one and only one train or engine at a time. Permissive Block: A block which may be occupied by more than one train or engine at a time. Clear Block: A block not occupied by a train or engine. Block Signal / Systems Automatic Block Signal: A fixed signal at the entrance of a block to govern trains and engines entering and using that block. Automatic Block Signal System: A series of consecutive blocks, the use of which is governed by block signals actuated by a train engineer or by certain conditions affecting the use of the block. Manual Block Signal System: A series of consecutive blocks, the use of which is governed by block signals or instructions upon information transmitted by telephone or other means of communication. Traffic Control system: A block signal system in which train movements are authorized by block signal indications in both opposing and following directions. Interlocking: An arrangement of signals and signal appliances so interconnected that their movements must succeed each and for which interlocking rules are in effect. It may be operated manually or automatically. Interlocking Limits: The track between extreme opposing signals of an interlocking. Pilot: Personnel assigned to a train when engine man or conductor or both are not fully acquainted with the physical characteristics of the railroad. |