Was there any advantage to run left-handed, or would running that way be more trouble to train crews? Such as the CNW did, for example.
Not much difference that I could see–engineers on opposing trains were next to each other when the trains passed, but that may or may not have had any significance.
However, in multiple-track territory, someone other than the engineer had to snag the train orders at remote locations, keeping him free to mind the track ahead. I did my share of the snagging.
the NS still uses some that were orginally set up with the long nose forward and now runs them short nose forward making them LH controls and the only thing that the engineers gripe about is that in the territory I work in most of the signals are on the RH side of the track making the conductor see the signal first in some spots
I hope I’m not preaching to the choir, but even though the UP has been running CNW’s old commuter operations for more than ten years, the scoots still run on the left. People are used to it and there’s no appreciable improvement to operate right-hand. Perhaps most important, the depots are almost always to the right of the tracks, meaning that if sides were switched commuters would be huddling around a thankless shelter rather than enjoying the warmth of a real depot.
Well, with left-hand running, trains passing headed in opposite directions offer the engineers a chance to reach out the window and high five each other. [(-D]
CNW is not the only left hand running on UP. From Ogden to the tunnels near Wahsatch, trains are on the left-hand track. However, since the east-bound and west-bound tunnels cross each other, trains arrive in Evanston WY on the right-hand track.
dd
BNSF (& UP trackage rights):
Cajon Pass in California is run mostly left-handed.
As you travel uphill (from San Bernardino): The longer, and less-steep, grade swings to the left. The shorter and steeper (original) grade swings to the right.
I always admired the courage of the operators that had to ‘hoop’ up the orders; I know I would not like to be standing only a few feet from the train as it passed by at (any) speed.
The main difference for the CNW crews was that, when passing another train on double track, it was the engineer that got out of his seat, as opposed to the conductor (brakeman, flagman, etc).
[(-D]
[tup]
That would be an interesting thing! Imagine the force between the hands…OUCH!
It would give new meaning to the phrase “Gimmee some skin!”[(-D]
[(-D]
Another question: would it be a feasible or wise thing to switch from one way (RH/LH) to the other? What would prompt such a change? How does that impact signalling?
Feasible, yes. Wise, possibly, but probably not.
Changes in traffic patterns might prompt something. I’ve been noticing on my way to work that, more often than not now, inbound scoots are using (or lined up on) the southernmost track between West Chicago (at least–possibly all the way from Elburn) to Elmhurst during the early part of the a.m. rush hour. The only reason I can think of for this change–entirely feasible with CTC–is that the yards at West Chicago and Proviso are on the north side of the tracks, and the coach yard and Elburn/LaFox stations are on the south side, and UP would like to run more freights. This is just my theory–I’d welcome corroboration or refutation.
If you had strict directional double track, you’d need to rebuild the signal system “backwards”. It would be more sensible to convert the line to CTC, giving bidirectional operation to both tracks.
You’d also have to do something with crossovers between the tracks. They’re vital to a smooth CTC operation. Jeff can correct me if I’m wrong here, but pre-CTC in Iowa, all of the crossovers would have to be backed through by a train leaving the left track for the right-hand track. There were advantages to that (I’m just not sure what they were). If the direction of traffic were reversed, and the crossovers weren’t, you’d have to do a head-end move onto the “wrong” track, then make a backup move to get back.
Pre CTC and out where it’s still left handed current of traffic, there were/are facing point hand throw crossovers. It won’t be too much longer and it’ll be all CTC allowing going either direction on either track.
Jeff