I'm seeking information on the method used to control the yard tracks in the passenger (upper) yard of the Wilmington NC terminal in the 1940s and 1950s. Were the tracks and turnouts controlled remotely from a tower, or were ground throws used? Thanks. mvh

-- Mark V. Huband (markhuband@aol.com), November 06, 2000

Answers

Mark -- apparently there were no remotely controlled turnouts at the Wilmington passenger station. In the Special Instruc- tion portion of Northern Div. Timetable No. 1 (in effect 04/2/54) "Wilmington: Trains approach passenger station at yard speed (able to stop within one-half range of vision) expecting to find tracks occupied; reduce speed to 6 miles an hour from Sixth Street Bridge and stop one car length from butting block." Such instructions are not what you'd expect to find for turnouts con- trolled from an interlocking. There MAY have been a switch tender (a trainman not assigned to a crew, but who's duties are to operate turnouts) assigned at the passenger station.

As information, southbound passenger trains from the W&W Subdivision were required to turn on the wye at New Bern Junction and back into the station. On October 21, 1939, Extra 1034 en route to Smith Creek Yard from Navassa failed to clear the time of No. 41 and collided head-on with Engine 1548 on the wye at at New Bern Junction -- no interlocking there!

-- Harry Bundy (y6b@aol.com), November 08, 2000.