|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Despatch Yard |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subsidiaries: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RR Memorabilia: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utilities: |
|
|
|
|
E-mail
|
|
|
Despatch Yard |
 |
|
DESPATCH
YARD was the first part of THE
NORMANED RAILROAD
which was built up following the family’s move from Connecticut to the
layout’s present location. The name, “Despatch,” was chosen for a “double
reason” - The (then) Penn-Central Railroad’s Despatch Carshops, a freight
car manufacturing company, was located in nearby East Rochester, N.Y., which
was itself formerly named the village of Despatch. These seemed to be good
local connections for the start of our new model railroad’s major freight
yard. |
|
Right and below:
Marx and Lionel gantry cranes work at unloading junk loads and
“piggy-back” flat cars in Despatch Yard. Note junk yard at lower right
and scrap train work caboose at lower left of the close-up (below left),
and trailer cars on flats in lower left of the wider view (right). |
 |
|
|
So this yard
was to become not only the first part of the NORMANED
to be “finished,” but over the years it has been the area which has been
most often changed.
 It began
as a simple six-track yard alongside a long approach track off the main
line. It evolved into one of the layout's two major terminals, providing a
choice between point-to-point and/or continuous operation, utilizing two
reversing loops, a turntable, and a turning wye track. Despatch became also
the main maintenance area for motive power, with the original yard approach
track now providing access to the roundhouse and other servicing facilities
for steam locomotives, an engine house and fueling facility for diesels, and
a machine shop. |
|
A steam switch engine “works” the back end of the Despatch Yard, as
two others wait to move out of the engine servicing and maintenance
areas and couple up to their consists (the large “Hudson” 4-6-4
locomotive at lower right of photo is just about to leave the
turntable which serves the NORMANED’s roundhouse). |
|
|
The
“backyard” of Despatch Yard (upper left area) is adjacent to
(left-to-right) the machine shop, coal loader and water tank, shown
here servicing a steam locomotive. The edge of the turntable well is
visible at extreme right (above bridge). |
|
|
|
Meanwhile,
the main yard area itself continued, from time-to-time, to provide for
switching of freight (and sometimes passenger) cars on a caboose track,
repair (rip) and classification tracks, plus loading and unloading
facilities for various types of cargo. At other times it was just a good
place to “park,” display, and store (or “lose”) things for the railroad.
|
|
An Eastman Kodak Co. (Ekc) boxcar is pulled by Pennsylvania RR steam
power over a removable truss bridge as it leaves Despatch Yard past
the modified skyline of the firm’s Rochester N.Y. headquarters [a
tiny corner of the yard’s control panel is visible in the lower
right corner]. |
 |
|
Diesel enginehouse and fueling facilities adjacent to the Despatch
Yard entrance are pictured here. |
|
|
A Marx lighted switch tower, some diesel fueling facilities, and a
two-stall engine house are located at the scenic entrance / exit of
Despatch Yard. |
|
|
Left: The “ladder track” and switch control panel are evident in
this picture of the entrance to the Despatch Yard on the NORMANED
RR. A number of trains, cranes and accessories keep this area full
and busy most of the time. (A portion of the TTCo. Trolley Museum
and the “Saltersville Siding” may be detected faintly in the
background on the second and third track levels). |
|
|
|
In
some of the illustrations provided herein, parts of this diversity will be
noticeable to viewers who may discover different equipment and activity in
areas which they recognize from other views. |
| -
|
|
[ Home ]
|
|
|
