Over Memorial Day 2006 I took a trip up to Connecticut and managed to photograph some of the new signaling and interlocking changes on the NEC while returning back down south .
These include the new
GREENS FARMS high speed 4-track crossover in the New Haven Line b/t Norwalk and Bridgeport. The recently completed
tweaks to SHELL interlocking (5+ years in the making). The new crossover on the Amtrak Hellgate line right before SHELL and finally the new signaling gantries on the NEC between ZOO and NORTH PHILADELPHIA.
I also got some sweet pics of the Hallgate bridge complete with
CSX freight train as well as Sunnyside yard and F interlocking pics.
You can see the whole set at:
http://acm.jhu.edu/~sthurmovik/Railpics/06-06-01_MEMORIAL_DAY_06/-Thumbnails.html
The signals (if you can call them that) have been turned on at the restored GREENS FARMS interlocking. There used to be a crossover here until it was eliminated by Metro-North, but the large gap between crossovers at South Norwalk and Bridgeport created operational problems and the railroad restored it with 80mph high speed turnouts for all routes.
Here is perhaps the best photo I have of an Amtrak train taking the "Straight Shot" at SHELL. This route will be eliminated when westbound Amtrak trains are crossed over east of the New Rochelle station and then make the diverging move from the former eastbound express train.
View in the opposite direction of the twin movable point diamonds that will be eventually reduced to one.
New crossover on the Hellgate Line going in at the new MANOR interlocking. Who says position lights are dead! From the installed indications on the signal, these turnouts will be rated for 45mph.
Nice shot of automatic 68 on the Hellgate line complete with the Hellgate bridge and CSX freight train with SD40-2 #8846 providing power. The westbound signals use the reduced dimension US&S style position light where the lamps are compressed together.
