Norfolk Southern Identification?

B

butter

NorthWest Ohio Trainz2010
I was rail-fanning tonight, and ran across a few things that I would like to identify. One is a a foot across disk of metal, a older looking box, and a large signal. I would also like to know if when the signal and box are identified if they are in trainz, could be easily made, or if there is something of the sort as I am recreating this line.

Norton Disk
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/nortondisk3.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/220/nortondisk2.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/nortondisk1.jpg/

Signal Box?
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/228/nsmain142oldbox.jpg/

Signals
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/146/nssignal3.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/718/nssignal2.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/nssignal1.jpg/

Just a little background.. Monday the top left signal light was red. Today it was off. The right middle one has been off both days. Also when a NS Roadrailer came by going towards this signal, unless the signal changed after I had looked moments before, it went through red. There are two tracks, the train was on the left side. The right track ends 100 ft down and merges into the left.

Any helps appreciated, Thanks.
-Kyle.
 
That box looks like it might be an old relay box. Or even an old phone/telegraph box. Im not sure, but I have seen some thing like that some place else that had an old phone in it for crews to call into a yard or dispatch.

As for the disk, it says its a grinding wheel on it. So one can assume its off a rail grinder, or was used to replace some rail.

With out seeing the track layout, I cant even make a guess as to how the signals work.
 
The signal heads look suspiciously like U. S. & S. style "R"/"R-2" signal heads (one of the notable users of which is the Chesapeake & Ohio), with the mounting brackets that are holding up the signals being strong clues, but in this case I can not say for certain if these heads are of this type without seeing a photo showing the backs of the signal heads. I do not know of any prototypical models of U. S. & S. colorlight signals such as the style "R"/"R-2" for Trainz, unless there are some on the DLS that I do not know about :p, but they are a current project of mine. ;)

The hoods/visors on the signals in your photos are interesting; the left half looks like the style on U. S. & S. searchlights, while the right half is more like a tunnel visor.

Regards.
 
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I can make a trip back up there tonight to get more photos, as I have plans to be there quite a bit
 
mrreet said:
oh and for your safety and the safety / sanity of others please don't trespass.
Click to expand...

Hahaha. Yes that is a big thing with me also. I don't like people ruining it for others. I follow the basic guidelines, cross the tracks at the road. stay away from their switches, all that good stuff.

Also, I forgot ( I don't know how) but I have a video of this location, where the Signal and track layout can be accurately seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v90vGBGXX8

Google Maps Location
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=142+A...-87.802734&sspn=43.596692,107.138672&t=h&z=19
 
I have viewed thousands of lackluster, low angle, up close, videos where the overly loud clanging crossing bells, and the blaring train horn, blows out the sound system on a video camera ... and in my own personal opinion: shooting video from a vantage point with a high elevation, and 200' distant, and 500' downtrack, gets the best sound effects, and gives a greater field of view ... and is much safer shooting video from afar.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/228/nsmain142oldbox.jpg/

That looks like a wiring relay box with a locked hinged door of some sort ... and it's Greek Othodox Church Steeple top, seams to be to deter some railfan from sitting on it ! :hehe:

Perhaps the pointy acorn on top, was a cap, that was placed over a pipe signal support, that was cut off from the age of yesteryear ?

It might be for warning devices such as: red fuse flares or track warning torpedo's (probably not though).http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHU3NwgGEhY&feature=related
 
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I am no signal expert by any means, but the extra signals could easily relate to the interlocking or the industrial siding / yard to the right.
 
The Norton Disk is actually a cut-off wheel. They range from 3" diameter for use in die-grinders (cut-off tools) up to 12" diameter for cut-off saws. I use them quite often in my job as a maintenance tech in the Subaru plant here in Lafayette, and in every other factory I have ever worked at. If you are cutting steel, these are the way to go. I even have some for my Dremel at home, although the diameter on them is about an inch.
 
Yep, those look like U. S. & S. style "R"/R-2"s alright. Looks like I would probably only have to stick hoods/visors of this type onto my models when they are finished to match these.

Regards.
 
Response to signals

Looks like Traffic Control Territory. The switch motor gave that away. That said, the signal on the left will only display clear, approach and stop aspects. Being a junction they are absolute signals. The signal on the right should display diverging clear, diverging approach, and stop aspects. In the NS rule book if a signal has a bulb burnt out or other defect we take it at its most restricting so in this case it would be a stop signal. Some of our signals wont light up til we enter the block. With all that being said, I work off the N&W signal system out of Decatur IL. NS has 3 major signal systems. Norac, N&W, and Southern. Not sure if it is some kind of Norac signal or not. I never go east of Peru IN. Hope that helped some.
 
Got the rule book sitting right next to me. Had me perplexed. I do not have a copy of the norac rules. Its the old Conrail system.
 
Retro00064 said:
Yep, those look like U. S. & S. style "R"/R-2"s alright. Looks like I would probably only have to stick hoods/visors of this type onto my models when they are finished to match these.

Regards.
Click to expand...


That sounds great! If you need more photos of the signals, feel free to send me a message!
 
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