I am seeking information on the following topics relevant to my modeling...
OPERATIONS
Main Line Operations
Hawstone Refractories -- The brickyard was serviced via a trailing point switch off of track one at Hawstone. A local out of Lewistown serviced industries from Lewistown through Newport. If a local were to head east out of the Lewistown yard, it could cross over as far as track two, but not to track one. There was no opportunity to cross all the way over to track one until WALL interlocking, which was well past Hawstone. I see two possiblities:
1) The local backed westward out of the yard, through LEWIS interlocking, across to track one, then proceeded eastward.
2) The local did not service Hawstone Refractories and it was instead serviced by a through train between Altoona and Enola.
Standby Power -- Lewistown maintained numerous locomotives as stand-by power to protect main line trains. Not only were these locomotives photographed around the Lewistown Junction yard, but employee time books indicate they ran light and were staged along the main line, both eastward and westward. Where were they staged? There were no turning facilities eastward, and westward there was a turntable at Mt. Union, but it was too small to handle M1's, which were typical for standby power.
Lewistown Secondary Operations
With the discontinuation of passenger traffic in 1941, the branch was reduced to secondary status. There were no signals or cab signals. Crews contacted LEWIS tower for permissions. That said, were Form 19/31's still transcribed, or was the permission simply verbal?
Milroy Secondary Operations
With the discontinuation of passenger traffic in 1941, the branch was reduced to secondary status. There were no signals or cab signals. Crews contacted LEWIS tower for permissions. That said, were Form 19/31's still transcribed, or was the permission simply verbal?
