Recently a couple of P&N depot photos were shared in a forum here on TrainBoard. Which started me thinking that perhaps I should dig out my paperwork from that company. So here is one of several. (We do not have an "SCL" prefix, so...) The rest can bee seen at https://train-orders.com/TOUR/P/PIED/PIED.html Belton, South Carolina:
That's really neat Ken! I'm pretty sure that the P&N's Belton depot is gone, though the SOU's was renovated and remains. This isn't my picture, but here you go in the SCL era -- train order signal and all. I caught a Pickens unit in Belton in March 2006, but haven't been back since. The P&N line through Belton has been torn up; the Pickens unit rests on former SOU.
I have seen a number of these among train orders in my collection. Not an every day instruction, but not quite rare, either.
I was on Amtrak #19 (Crescent) 5-10 years ago when it did that maneuver south of Tuscaloosa to allow #20 to pass. The siding was already occupied by a southbound NS freight. Apparently there was enough room in front of the freight for #19 to back in, or Dispatch had the freight backup to make room. Thinking about that maneuver now, it seems scary, even with #19's engineer having his conductor on the rear vestibule with a radio.
The order as written is allowing two trains operating in opposing directions to 'effectively' own the same railroad one train length beyond the designated meet point. Sketchy at best.
It would be helpful if we had the TT in effect, to know any yard limits or special instructions. Or perhaps there is a bulletin concerning a switch out of service which necessitated this movement and outlined what would be done to make it safe.
