OK, so in the lines west, the NYC had 4 track mainline. The two inner tracks were for the high speed passenger traffic, and the outer tracks were for the freight trains correct? When the passenger train pulled up to the train station to take on passengers, did it cross over onto the outer track to pick up passengers or did it stay on the inner tracks? If thats the case, what happened if they were picking up passenger from the inner tracks and a freight train came along? Hope all that made sense. Just trying to work on my trackplan and cant figure out what I should do about my train station tracks.
That's a good question. I was just a kid growing up along those tracks (not west, but four track main). The numbers of the tracks in my home town were not sequential, not 1-2-3-4, but something like 1-3-2-4, and yes, there were two freight, two passenger, two westbound and two eastbound. I do remember passenger trains on the outboard track at the local station. I also remember having to cross tracks to board a train. I know this has been of little help, but I think they crossed the numbers often on the route. Maybe Roger or Mike can pitch in here. :tb-confused:
Actually, the Hudson Division had a four-track main from GCT all the way to Albany. Then, as Jim says, the Mohawk Division had four-tracks from Albany to Buffalo. I don't know about the lines from there to Cleveland and beyond, but I assume they were four-track most of the way. IIRC, the stations that were thru-train stops, e.g. Poughkeepsie, Albany, Syracuse, etc. had platforms serving all four tracks with underground or overhead walkways to the station building. The stations that were only local stops had platforms outside of each of the two outer tracks with fences isolating the two inner through tracks. My memory may a bit foggy because the last time I rode the Central's Hudson and Mohawk Divisions was 55 years ago. But I remember standing on a platform at Peekskill, NY when one of the "Great Steel Fleet" roared through on an inner track at what seemed like 80-100 mph......WOW!
So your saying that the local and semi local passenger trains would use the outter tracks, but the named trains would still use the inner two?
I'm stumped. Like Hank said, it has been 50+ years and we were kids and didn't really understand how the railroads worked. What you said about the limiteds vs. locals makes sense. I suspect the locals were routed on the freight tracks. I remember riding the "Milk train" which stopped at St. Johnsville, Fonda, Amsterdam and every other place. One thing I do remember is how many trains ran all day every day. It was a great time. :tb-biggrin:
