Main Line -- Harrisburg to Pittsburgh

Per the Index page, the Pitcairn Yard maps are collectively Sheet 24. The maps did not themselves have sheet numbers.

Pitcairn Yard, east section, Pitcairn, Pa. (29K, 200 dpi)

Pitcairn Yard, eastbound hump, Pitcairn, Pa. (108K, 200 dpi)

Pitcairn Yard, westbound hump, Pitcairn, Pa. (106K, 200 dpi)

Pitcairn Yard, west section, Pitcairn, Pa. (37K, 200 dpi)

Main Line -- Monongahela Division

[1] MONON, Pittsburgh, Pa.

72K, 3857x1044, 200 dpi
Start of the "Panhandle" main line. MONON tower was across the Monongahela River from downtown Pittsburgh, on the left (south) bank.

The Index lists this map as sheet 0. The unusual sheet numbering may have been because the Monongahela Division was at one time issued as a separate set of interlocking diagrams, or because the owner of the set I scanned combined books.

OB and MONON are clearly drawn in different styles. In reviewing the whole book at least 3 drawing styles can be identified.

[1] OB, Beck's Run, Pa.

61K, 3807x1053, 200 dpi

[2] PG, Duquesne, Pa.

93K, 3914x2053, 200 dpi

PG, 1964, G.O. 1315

PG interlocking simplified and #1 track removed across the Port Perry Bridge.

[3] CR, Dravosburg, Pa.

39K, 1905x1035, 200 dpi

[3½] Floreffe, Floreffe, Pa.

34K, 3824x1057, 200 dpi
There is no sheet number, but the Index lists this map as 3½.

[4] H, Shire Oaks, Pa.

38K, 1942x1009, 200 dpi

[5] MC, Monongahela, Pa.

46K, 1939x1009, 200 dpi

[5½] BF, Brownsville Jct., Pa.

93K, 3379x2050, 200 dpi
Another map with no sheet number, drawn similarly to Floreffe. The Index lists this map as 5½.

[6] West Brownsville Jct., west of Brownsville, Pa.

29K, 3798x1031, 200 dpi
Crossing of the PRR with the P&LE.

Main Line -- Conemaugh

A low-grade bypass of the western portion of the Pittsburgh main line. The line starts at SG tower west of Johnstown and proceeds along the Conemaugh river, west by north, to Kiskiminetas Jct. ("Kiski Jct.") where the Allegheny Branch is crossed. It then crosses the Allegheny River and proceeds downriver (southwest) along the right (west) bank to Pittsburgh, joining into the Pittsburgh-Chicago main line (the "Fort Wayne") just across the river from Pennsylvania Station, Pittsburgh. This routing avoided several hills on the Pittsburgh main line between Pittsburgh and Johnstown.

Starts at SG tower on the Pittsburgh main line.

...?

AJ, ?Apollo, Pa.

HARRIS, AJ, 1958, G.O. 418

[AJ = ?Allegheny or ?Apollo Junction; sugg. by D. Brashear]

Allegheny Branch crossing Main Line -- Conemaugh, and nearby junction to the Butler Secondary. Many hand-operated switches changed to interlocked switches, and many signals installed. The same G.O. notes the closure of SCULLY tower on the Scully Branch.

Signalling interest: the Butler Secondary at that time had, and retained, a semaphore distant signal. Also note that there were no intervening (automatic) block signals between AJ and HARRIS.

...?

FEDERAL, ...

Cresson Branch

[4A] EP, ???Cresson, Pa.

21K, 1919x1002, 200 dpi
Anyone know a more precise location? Where is EP with respect to the locations below?

Ebensburg Jct.

Connection with the Black Lick Branch.

Bradley Jct.

Becomes the Susquehanna Extension Branch.

Susquehanna Extension Branch

[4B] IR, [south of Carroltown], Pa.

26K, 1912x993, 200 dpi
Starts at Bradley Jct., runs NW, through a tunnel under U.S. 219, then N through Bakerton, Watkins, Spangler (where, once upon a time, a branch of the NYC&HR joined), Barnesboro, Garmantown, terminating in Cherry Tree. In Cherry Tree, the branch met with the NYC and the Cherry Tree & Dixonville, a joint NYC-PRR operation running W to Clymer and then N to Dixonville.

The line between Bradley Jct. and Cherry Tree is currently inactive, with rails removed but bridges and tracks at grade crossings remaining. The CT&D still [1998] sees rail service about three times a month from the Tanoma Mine north of Clymer, N on ex-NYC trackage toward Clearfield, rejoining the Cresson Branch somewhere north of Burnside. There was a lot of parallel NYC/PRR trackage coming down from Cresson, and the duplicate trackage was removed following the Penn Central merger). [thanks to Henry J. Statkowski]

Derrick Brashear reports the grade crossings out on 1999.01.17.

Southwest Branch

[7] CJ, County Home Jct., Pa.

43K, 1912x1042, 200 dpi

[8] RS, Redstone Jct., Pa.

36K, 1939x998, 200 dpi

Allegheny Branch

...

FD, Ford City, Pa. (?K, ? dpi)

FD--BRADY, 1957, G.O. 406

Double track reduced to single track. A very nice example of Manual Block signalling. BRADY was in the Northern Region, G.O. 317. Block Station MH was removed by a later General Order.

MH, Templeton, Pa. (?K, ? dpi)

[MH ~= Mahoning]

BRADY, Red Bank, Pa. (?K, ? dpi)

...

RH, ?, Pa. (?K, ? dpi)

RH, 1967, G.O. 403

RH block station is removed and trackage converted to single track. Note the late date at which this branch was still bidirectionally signalled. The same G.O. notes the closing of NESCOPECK tower on the Wilkes-Barre Branch.

Chartiers Branch

KY--MO, 1957, G.O. 407

Double track reduced to single track, and Automatic Block signalling with Cab Signals changed to Manual Block. One example of a Manual Block signal. Relatively rare example of a General Order map showing sidings, etc.