I can read the following on this page:
http://utahrails.net/drgw/rg-system-maps.php
D&RGW 1969 System Map — The D&RGW system in 1969 is shown in two divisions: Colorado Division (all Colorado lines to Grand Junction) and Utah Division (all Utah lines to Grand Junction).
So what is a division, I also wonder what a branchline is?
Can someone please explain this in a simple way?
A division is probably best described as an accounting/operating entity. The division is to produce revenue for the rail road by hauling passengers and freight across its geograpic boundaries. There may also be some things about the operation of that piece of the railroad that make sense for it to be under a particular manager’s direction. This could be dictated by the type of route it is, heavy mountain grades, remote stations and industries, in some cases the gauge of the railway itself could make it a sperate distinct operational unit. Narrow gauge equipment would be best served as a consolidated operating division of its own, as opposed to a standard gauge mountainous division requireing heavy locomotives, helpers etc. that an adjoining division might not have due to the terrain that it operated in. In addition I believe that it was an operational district that the crews could traverse in a normal work shift. Thus crews and engines would be changed out at division points. As equipment improved only the crews needed to be changed.
In short a division was an operating department of part of the total railway.
A branch line is a distinct operating department that is off the “main line” operations to serve industries and communities that are off the through routes. The branch line was there to deliver or originate traffic to feed the mainline of the railway. Jim Hill’s Great Northern was a mainline across the north western states with muliple branches to small farming to generate grain traffic primarily, but livestock as well. The network of branches were the strength of the railroad and gave the mainline its reason for existence. These branches would be operated under the division they were part of.
Will
This site provides some short definitions http://www.spikesys.com/Trains/rr_defns.html
for example:
Branch Line
A secondary line of a railroad, not the main line.
That’s a little sparse, but covers the main idea.
Enjoy
Paul
A branch line is generally a route that goes to a destination from the mainline and ends requiring any trains on the branch to retrace the route back to the mainline much like the branch of a tree. There are some branchs that are very high capacity connecting two major cities or allowing such but to modelers branchs are typically bucollic secondary tracks operated at a leisurely pace.
Divisions are pieces of major railroads and were generally assigned based on how far a steam engine could run without needing maintenance. 200-400 miles were typical. The Division manager was responsible for all aspects of the railroad in his territory including freight, passenger, community relations, sales, engine and track maintenance, signals, etc. On the PRR diesels were assigned to a specific shop and needed to return there for monthly inspections. So while an engine may be used in say Philadelphia or Pittsburgh or a road engine in reality it showed up on the books as Harrisburg and monthly had to make a trip there to insure FRA inspection requirements were met. The PRR was one a few railroads that in steam days allowed engines to travel from Harrisburg to Chicago on trains like the Broadway.
Thanks for the great answers as usual. I think I got it [:D]
I forgot to ask.
So we have divisions, mainlines and branchlines (like the branchline from Orestad to Craig?). That’s pretty clear. But what’s a subdivision, and shortline?
A division is generally defined as the portion of the railroad under the supervision of a superintendent. It could range in size from several hundred route miles to over a thousand route miles, depending on the structure of the railroad. Some railroads have had as many as 36 or as few as 12 divisions on the same map.
A branchline usually means some form of secondary route. Some railroads only use it as a descriptive term and not officially. On the Reading Railroad only the line from Palo Alto to Philadelphia and Phillie to New York was the “main line”. Every other route was a “branch” regardless of tonnage handled. On the other hand the MoPac didn’t have any “branches” officially, every line was a “subdivision”.
Dave H.
A subdivision is a smaller part of a division. For example (today)…
CSX’s Baltimore Division extends north-south from Richomond, VA to Newark, NJ and east-west from Baltimore, MD to New Castle, PA.
The Baltimore Division is made up of 23 sub divisions. Which are normally crew districts. The Philadelphia Sub runs from Baltimore to Philadelphia (one crew), and the Trenton Sub runs from Philadelphia to Newark (another crew). The complex of yards around Baltimore also constitues a sub.
Nick
A short line is just that–a small railroad line. Typically a short line is independently owned, or is owned by a larger railroad but exists as its own corporate entity. A short line can be VERY short (just a few miles) or up to, say, 200 miles.