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Christopher Yard |
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Union Station & Christopher Terminal |
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CHRISTOPHER
YARD and passenger terminal was the last major portion of THE
NORMANED
RAILROAD
to be constructed. As a result, there is less added detail and fewer
additional scenic effects than are evident in some of the other major areas,
although its intended purpose and use has fulfilled an important operational
need in the overall layout plan. |
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Union
Station & Christopher Terminal (front, above) and passenger yard
with control panel (below) on THE NORMANED RAILROAD layout. (A
portion of the NORMANED's main control panel is visible in the distance
in the top picture). |
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During the
building of this yard, we had conceived no previous ideas for its name. It
was at this time, however, that a student at the National Technical
Institute for the Deaf (at Rochester Institute of Technology) linked up with
me in a plan to come to my house weekly on Thursday nights to “lend his
hands” to my empire building. “Chris,” as he preferred being called, was a
big help in routing wiring from the numerous cab control panels to various
track switches and accessories throughout the layout, and in time to the
newly-developing Union Station and its four-track passenger yard. By the
time this facility was virtually completed and in operating order, he was
happy to have me name the new area “Christopher,” in recognition of his
efforts. |
Below:
Map of the Christopher Yard |
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Right: This diesel fueling facility is located adjacent to
the entrance (or exit) of the Christopher Yard. |
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Christopher
Yard is one of the layout’s two major terminals, providing a choice between
point-to-point and/or continuous operation by utilizing an optional
power-blocked turn-around loop that encircles the front of the Union
Station. It also has a small diesel-fueling and service area adjacent to the
entrance (or exit) of the yard.
The Christopher Yard is the lowest track level area on THE
NORMANED
RAILROAD,
and it is accessible from the rest of the layout only by climbing or
descending a trestle which rises on a steep five percent grade of 8 inches
in 13 feet.
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A New
York Central RR giant Alco A-B-B lash-up of diesel locomotives is about
ready to move out of Christopher Yard and couple up with its string of
varnish before starting the long climb up the steep grade to THE
NORMANED RR mainline. Passenger consists for two sections of Milwaukee
Road special trains to and from Chicago wait on the back two yard
tracks. |
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We have
provided here several illustrations showing some of the scenes which are
typical of operations at this location. Among the railway names which
have utilized this passenger terminal and its yard facilities are the
New York Central, the Pennsylvania RR, Amtrak, the Milwaukee Road
(Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific RR), the Canadian National, THE
NORMANED’s
“home” fleet, and occasional others operating tourist excursions. (All
of these lines have staging and/or interchange access to THE
NORMANED
at Christopher, Bridgeport, Genesee Junction and Panthorne. RPO mail
cars are included in the consists of most of these passenger trains, and
special cars for bagged mail and Railway Express service are often seen
on passenger and freight cars using NORMANED
trackage).
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The
“Trainmaster” takes the throttle to move an outgoing passenger
consist out of the station platform to begin its journey from the
Christopher Yard to the main line. |
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