Erie Lackawanna
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From: =?UTF-8?B?0JrQmNCg0JjQm9Cb0J7QodCb0JDQktCqINCR0JXQoNCY0J0=?=
=?UTF-8?B?0J7QktCqIChBYnJhbSBCdXJuZXR0KQ==?= pravoslavna_@_comcast.net
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 10:28:59 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Erie Tower in Elmira - Photos
"Erie_FS_Elmira_US_S.jpg" - image/jpeg, 1814x1450 (24bit)







It is very likely the ultimate act of hubris to believe that I, a "foreigner," can bring anything worthy before the Erie brethren, which they have not seen before. But in the event someone, perchance, has not seen it, I offer the attached 1936 (?) image, which came from the Union Switch & Signal collection. (The culprit who Photoshopped "ca July 1936" at the lower right corner of the image, was no other than the undersigned, so don't try to take that date to the bank.)






There appear to be six telegraph wires coming into this tower: three represented by sounders on the top shelf, and three on the bottom. The instrument visible at lower left is mounted on a swing-arm resonator, which enables it to be pulled over to the Operator's ear, so that he can hear and copy it above ambient noises. The wiring indicates that there is another sounder (left end, lower shelf,) the visibility of which is obscured by the swing arm resonator. All the instruments appear to be Model 15 sounders, which were virtually ubiquitous at the time, and which were Western Union's last "standard" sounder. The 15's were introduced around 1917, or so, and excellent instruments designed for quick adjustment, to follow changing current conditions on the line wire. I have a rebuilt Model 15 telegraph sounder operating on my desk right now.






The interlocking machine depicted gives the appearance of a US&S Model 14 machine, but the caption identifies it as the older Style F. My guess is that the Erie bought the Style F because they got a bargain price on it. The Model 14's had been on the market for some years by this time. There were problems with the Style F machines: something about the stroke of the lever only moving through a 45 degree arc, instead of the normal 60 degree arc, which created problems with the Copper electrical contact bands on the phenolic rollers operated by the bevel gear which is behind each lever. The only Style F I was ever around was a "repurposed" machine brought second-hand from some other place, and used in DY Tower at the east end of Enola (later called "Day,") to provide for the remote control of some switches which were not part of the original interlocking plant.






Only one thing is missing in the photograph: the spittoon.






The second attachment is an image of the tower taken in 1977 by Mr. Fran (Francis) Giacoma, a civil engineer retired from a career with PRR/PC/CR and CS&X-Teee.






My, but would you not love to spend an afternoon talking with the old gentleman in the picture? If he is age 70, he was born about 1866, and may have begun his railroad career in the 1880s. I am definitely ready to take a ride on his Time Machine !






-- abram burnett,


Peoples' Amish Republic of South Central Pennsylvania










Erie_FS_Elmira_US_S.jpg

Image EXIF Data:
Image Creation Date   2009:08:21 12:04:49
Software Version   Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 Windows
X Resolution   300 Pixels/Inch
Y Resolution   300 Pixels/Inch
Exif Image Width   1814 pixels
Exif Image Height   1450 pixels
ColorSpace   sRGB


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