In a message dated 6/3/2006 7:18:48 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net writes: To All In regards to the photo of switcher 363. The photo is clearly taken at the west end of the diesel servicing facilities at Croxton. There were several tracks west of County Road that were used to store pig flats on. Those are seen in the back ground with one having loads on it and one with empties. Bob Bahrs Chris and List, I don't think this was discussed in any depth in the past year anyway. I'm sure Bill Sheppard will have some comments and corrections, since he worked at the facility; his "Tidewater Terminals" book (available through ELHS) has a schematic of Cx and I highly recommend it. Until 1969 it was strictly a circus-loading facility located on the east side of the yard; it consisted of 8 ramp tracks, each with a capacity of 10 long flats, with the ramps located on the north (tt west) end. In 1969 it began to be mechanized with the installation of an adjacant long concrete pad as follows: 7 tracks of westbound classification yard "A" (A17-A23) were removed, A16 and A24 were extended east and the pad placed between. This also used one of the ramp tracks, leaving 7. A16 had a capacity of 43 long flats, A24 somewhat less. The facility thus occupied most of the north (east) side of the yard between the PC and NYS&W bridges. A P-70 Piggypacker (used a "clamshell" lift device) was acquired initially, later joined by two P-90's (larger machines with folding grapple arms) as the UPS traffic developed. The pad area was subsequently expanded at least once, reducing the ramp tracks to 5. However the ramps continued to be used right to the end, for tank trailers, packer failures and traffic peaks; it was more cramped than the Chicago facility (which only retained two ramp tracks) and so had a greater need for them. About the photo: I'm guessing it was taken at KW facing roughly north, and the loaded flats are on A16, with the pad behind them. The flats to the right are in "D" yard, and the ramp tracks are somewhere behind the switcher. I gather this is 1970 and there is just the P-70, so the ramps are still in heavy use. Paul B 3.) Lastly, in this picture of #363, at what I presume is Croxton, you see loaded pig flats on the left and if you scroll to the right, you see empties. In this photo, there are tracks in front of the flats, which makes me ask, how were these loaded at this time?? By piggypacker or crane, which would imply that there are no tracks behind the flats to allow the machines to move about? Or - circus style with the trailers backed on? I would be curious to find out more about pig ops in Croxton at this time. I realize that this may have been covered previously on the list, so if it has been, pls. just refer me to the time frame over which it was discussed. http://www.railfan.net/railpix/submit/subphoto.cgi?rondukarm/dsl_363_croxton_e w_c70.jpg Thanks in advance for any comments. Regards, Chris Thurner The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List Sponsored by the ELH&TS http://www.elhts.org ------------------------------
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