Re: (erielack) Fwd: Picking switches

["Philip Martin" <martinpl3_@_earthlink.net>]

The lock levers on the strong arm machine at G tower had a hole in the box
on the levers, you could stick a pencil in, to release the lever.  On
strong arm machines, you have signal levers, switch levers and lock levers.
On the Pennsy you could pick switches with permission since, IF it was
safe, there was no reason to tie up the railroad.  At JO, in Penn Station
in 1958, we had the same move on third trick, every night.  A long
westbound train would go in on track 12.  It would clear the switch, but
not the eastbound signal protecting the switch.  So the maintainer would
pick the switch, and we could continue running trains.  We had a Unhion
Switch and Signal electro mechanical machine.  The maintainer would take
the cover off the back of the machine, and would lift a blocking link in
the interlocking mechanism; and the leverman would throw the switch lever.
Around 1970, someone at A tower in Penn Station, picked a switch while a
train from St. Louis or Chicago was going over it; and the point end of the
platform broke a car in two, killing a passenger.
Philip Martin 




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