[PRR-talk] High wide load designations

[Bruce Smith]

On Jun 24, 2008, at 8:07 AM, ndbprr at att.net wrote:

> Were there special symbols for high wide or heavy loads?  Were  
> there any scheduled moves or were they all extras?  Say around  
> 1955-1960?  Thanks, Norm Bell

Norm,

AFAIK all PRR freight trains, even symbols, were in reality extras as  
none had time-table authority over any other train (this from a  
former PRR dispatcher).

That said, yes, there were regular high and wide movements.  For  
example, there was a high and wide "scheduled" for the Port Road  
(C&PD) every Sunday morning.  If you think about it, that makes  
sense, since that would be a low traffic time on the RR.  In  
addition, there was a wide spot specifically noted on the C&PD at the  
passing siding at Midway to allow H&W loads to clear opposing movements.

I would anticipate that non-priority H&W loads were collected  
somewhere such as Baltimore and then run as a solid train to Enola in  
this instance.  Obviously, other H&W loads were run as needed,  
particularly if they required movement prior to the "scheduled" day.   
Finally, local delivery of H&W loads on the C&PD was relative common  
because there were 4 power plants (if you count the hydro and steam  
plants at Holtwood as 2) on that branch.

For model railroaders this can make for an interesting ops session if  
you follow the Bill Darnaby approach.  Bill runs sequential 12 hour  
sessions.  So, once every 14 sessions, it is Sunday morning.  In that  
case, all those odd-ball H&W cars can come out of the storage boxes  
for the H&W train.  In addition, if you add H&W cars to regular  
trains, note that they frequently had general speed limitations (30  
mph or even slower) and specific speed limits (5 mph, or walking  
speed with observers) where clearances were tight.

Regards
Bruce

Bruce F. Smith
Auburn, AL
http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/index.pl/bruce_f._smith2

"Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield."
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