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==History==
==History==
A short branch of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] from [[Torrance, Pennsylvania|Torrance]] (on the main line) to [[Blairsville, PA|Blairsville]] opened in 1851; only a small piece of this at Blairsville is still in use.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1851%20Mar%2005.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1851 }}&nbsp;{{small|(67.7&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, March 2005 Edition</ref> The [[Western Pennsylvania Railroad]] opened from Blairsville west to [[Saltsburg, PA|Saltsburg]] in 1863<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1863%20June%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1863 }}&nbsp;{{small|(140&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, June 2004 Edition</ref> and to [[Kiskiminetas Junction|Kiskiminetas (Kiski) Junction]] (near [[Freeport, PA|Freeport]]) in 1864 or 1865.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1864%20June%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1864 }}&nbsp;{{small|(109&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, June 2004 Edition</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1865%20June%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1865 }}&nbsp;{{small|(110&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, June 2004 Edition</ref> The line from Freeport to [[Allegheny, PA|Allegheny]] (Pittsburgh) opened in 1866.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1866%20June%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1866 }}&nbsp;{{small|(89.2&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, June 2004 Edition</ref><!--says it's not clear if the bridge at Freeport was completed then--> A new, more direct line east from Blairsville was built by the Western Penn in the early 1880s, meeting the PRR main line at [[Bolivar, Pennsylvania|Bolivar]].<ref>[http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/rail/prr/Corphist/prr3.html PRR Corporate History: Pennsylvania Railroad]</ref> The PRR's [[Sang Hollow Extension]], now only part of the Conemaugh Line west of Conpit Junction, opened east to [[Johnstown, PA|Johnstown]] in 1876;<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1876%20April%2006.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1876 }}&nbsp;{{small|(116&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, April 2006 Edition</ref> the portion east of Conpit Junction was operated as a one-way line for westbound freight.<ref>[http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/Rail/Prr/Maps/Itlk/itlk_alt_pgh_main.html PRR Interlocking Diagrams: Altoona to Pittsburgh Main Line]</ref> All of the aforementioned lines became part of the PRR through leases and mergers, became [[Penn Central]] in 1968, and were taken over by [[Conrail]] in 1976. In the 1999 breakup of Conrail, the line was assigned to Norfolk Southern.
A short branch of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] from [[Torrance, Pennsylvania|Torrance]] (on the main line) to [[Blairsville, PA|Blairsville]] opened in 1851; only a small piece of this at Blairsville is still in use.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1851%20Mar%2005.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1851 }}&nbsp;{{small|(67.7&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, March 2005 Edition</ref> The [[Western Pennsylvania Railroad]] opened from Blairsville west to [[Saltsburg, PA|Saltsburg]] in 1863<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1863%20June%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1863 }}&nbsp;{{small|(140&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, June 2004 Edition</ref> and to [[Kiskiminetas Junction|Kiskiminetas (Kiski) Junction]] (near [[Freeport, PA|Freeport]]) in 1864 or 1865.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1864%20June%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1864 }}&nbsp;{{small|(109&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, June 2004 Edition</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1865%20June%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1865 }}&nbsp;{{small|(110&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, June 2004 Edition</ref> The line from Freeport to [[Allegheny, PA|Allegheny]] (Pittsburgh) opened in 1866.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1866%20June%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1866 }}&nbsp;{{small|(89.2&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, June 2004 Edition</ref><!--says it's not clear if the bridge at Freeport was completed then--> A new, more direct line east from Blairsville was built by the Western Penn in the early 1880s, meeting the PRR main line at [[Bolivar, Pennsylvania|Bolivar]].<ref>[http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/rail/prr/Corphist/prr3.html PRR Corporate History: Pennsylvania Railroad] {{wayback|url=http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/rail/prr/Corphist/prr3.html |date=20070927230735 }}</ref> The PRR's [[Sang Hollow Extension]], now only part of the Conemaugh Line west of Conpit Junction, opened east to [[Johnstown, PA|Johnstown]] in 1876;<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1876%20April%2006.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1876 }}&nbsp;{{small|(116&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, April 2006 Edition</ref> the portion east of Conpit Junction was operated as a one-way line for westbound freight.<ref>[http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/Rail/Prr/Maps/Itlk/itlk_alt_pgh_main.html PRR Interlocking Diagrams: Altoona to Pittsburgh Main Line]</ref> All of the aforementioned lines became part of the PRR through leases and mergers, became [[Penn Central]] in 1968, and were taken over by [[Conrail]] in 1976. In the 1999 breakup of Conrail, the line was assigned to Norfolk Southern.


The Conemaugh Line is notable for being the recipient of a variation of the PRR's [[Cab signalling|cab signal system]] in 1940, which eliminated the wayside signals between interlockings from Conpit Junction to Kiski Junction, requiring operation of trains by cab signal indication only.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1940%20Aug%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1940 }}&nbsp;{{small|(35.3&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, August 2004 Edition</ref> This system (whose visual [[Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee|NORAC]] Rule 562), modified by Conrail to operate bidirectionally, continues to be used by Norfolk Southern on this part of the Conemaugh Line; the section from Kiski to Pittsburgh also uses bidirectional signaling, however this section uses wayside signals but is NOT cab-signal energized. The entire line is remotely dispatched by [[Centralized traffic control|Traffic Control System]] (TCS).<ref>{{cite web|title=Conrail - Pittsburgh Division - Conemaugh Line Employee Timetable #6 January 15, 1998|url=http://www.trainweb.org/eastpenn/criconl.html|work=Eastern Pennsylvania Rail Page|accessdate=24 March 2012}}</ref>
The Conemaugh Line is notable for being the recipient of a variation of the PRR's [[Cab signalling|cab signal system]] in 1940, which eliminated the wayside signals between interlockings from Conpit Junction to Kiski Junction, requiring operation of trains by cab signal indication only.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1940%20Aug%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1940 }}&nbsp;{{small|(35.3&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, August 2004 Edition</ref> This system (whose visual [[Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee|NORAC]] Rule 562), modified by Conrail to operate bidirectionally, continues to be used by Norfolk Southern on this part of the Conemaugh Line; the section from Kiski to Pittsburgh also uses bidirectional signaling, however this section uses wayside signals but is NOT cab-signal energized. The entire line is remotely dispatched by [[Centralized traffic control|Traffic Control System]] (TCS).<ref>{{cite web|title=Conrail - Pittsburgh Division - Conemaugh Line Employee Timetable #6 January 15, 1998|url=http://www.trainweb.org/eastpenn/criconl.html|work=Eastern Pennsylvania Rail Page|accessdate=24 March 2012}}</ref>

Revision as of 13:12, 29 November 2016

Conemaugh Line
Overview
Termini
History
Opened1863 (independent), 1865 (PRR), 1968 (PC), 1976 (Conrail), 1999 (NS)
Closed1865 (independent), 1968 (PRR), 1976 (PC), 1999 (Conrail)
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Conemaugh Line is a rail line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The line runs from Conpit Junction (west of New Florence) northwest and southwest to Pittsburgh,[1] following the Conemaugh, Kiskiminetas, and Allegheny rivers, on the former main line of the Conemaugh Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR).[2] At its east end, it merges with the Pittsburgh Line; its west end is at the Fort Wayne Line at the west end of the Fort Wayne Railroad Bridge. The line was used by the PRR as a low-grade alternate to its main line (which is now part of Norfolk Southern's Pittsburgh Line) in the Pittsburgh area.[3]

History

A short branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad from Torrance (on the main line) to Blairsville opened in 1851; only a small piece of this at Blairsville is still in use.[4] The Western Pennsylvania Railroad opened from Blairsville west to Saltsburg in 1863[5] and to Kiskiminetas (Kiski) Junction (near Freeport) in 1864 or 1865.[6][7] The line from Freeport to Allegheny (Pittsburgh) opened in 1866.[8] A new, more direct line east from Blairsville was built by the Western Penn in the early 1880s, meeting the PRR main line at Bolivar.[9] The PRR's Sang Hollow Extension, now only part of the Conemaugh Line west of Conpit Junction, opened east to Johnstown in 1876;[10] the portion east of Conpit Junction was operated as a one-way line for westbound freight.[11] All of the aforementioned lines became part of the PRR through leases and mergers, became Penn Central in 1968, and were taken over by Conrail in 1976. In the 1999 breakup of Conrail, the line was assigned to Norfolk Southern.

The Conemaugh Line is notable for being the recipient of a variation of the PRR's cab signal system in 1940, which eliminated the wayside signals between interlockings from Conpit Junction to Kiski Junction, requiring operation of trains by cab signal indication only.[12] This system (whose visual NORAC Rule 562), modified by Conrail to operate bidirectionally, continues to be used by Norfolk Southern on this part of the Conemaugh Line; the section from Kiski to Pittsburgh also uses bidirectional signaling, however this section uses wayside signals but is NOT cab-signal energized. The entire line is remotely dispatched by Traffic Control System (TCS).[13]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Conemaugh Line.
  1. ^ the NS Conemaugh Line
  2. ^ http://triblive.com/x/blairsvilledispatch/s_522552.html
  3. ^ Keystone Crossings: Hobo's Guide to the Pennsy: The Allegheny Valley Railroad
  4. ^ "PRR Chronology, 1851" (PDF). (67.7 KiB), March 2005 Edition
  5. ^ "PRR Chronology, 1863" (PDF). (140 KiB), June 2004 Edition
  6. ^ "PRR Chronology, 1864" (PDF). (109 KiB), June 2004 Edition
  7. ^ "PRR Chronology, 1865" (PDF). (110 KiB), June 2004 Edition
  8. ^ "PRR Chronology, 1866" (PDF). (89.2 KiB), June 2004 Edition
  9. ^ PRR Corporate History: Pennsylvania Railroad Template:Wayback
  10. ^ "PRR Chronology, 1876" (PDF). (116 KiB), April 2006 Edition
  11. ^ PRR Interlocking Diagrams: Altoona to Pittsburgh Main Line
  12. ^ "PRR Chronology, 1940" (PDF). (35.3 KiB), August 2004 Edition
  13. ^ "Conrail - Pittsburgh Division - Conemaugh Line Employee Timetable #6 January 15, 1998". Eastern Pennsylvania Rail Page. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
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