Moose Valley RR Co.

Operations Headquarters: M. Leon Agne Engine Facility, 7021 Surrey Drive, Berkeley Spgs W.Va. (304) Ro4-1424

Bulletin #20073

March 23, 1977
 

TO: All Operating Employees.

DIVISION: Delta

SUBDIVISION: All

INCREASED USE OF ELECTROFROG.

IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE SLOW SPEED TRACKING CHARACTERISTICS, THE MOOSE VALLEY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAS INCREASED THE USE OF HARMON-PECO ELECTROFROG SWITCHES.  THESE SWITCHES ARE LESS TROUBLESOME TO TRACTION MOTORS AND DECREASE COMMUTATOR BRUSH VIBRATION WHICH CAN RESULT IN UNITS NOT LOADING PROPERLY.  HOWEVER, CREWS SHOULD NOTE THAT THESE SWITCHES ARE PROTECTED.  IN THE EVENT OF ROLLING STOCK ENTERING THE PROTECTED SWITCH AREA FROM THE REVERSE DIRECTION, WHILE THE SWITCH IS THROWN AGAINST THE ADVANCING EQUIPMENT, A PENALTY BRAKE APPLICATION MAY BE ISSUED.  ADDITIONALLY, A RULES VIOLATION MESSAGE WILL BE ISSUED FROM THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THE VIOLATION OCCURED.  CREWS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CHECK THE ALIGNMENT OF ALL SWITCHES WHEN ADVANCING FROM THE TRAILING SIDE.  M OF W GANGS HAVE BEGUN PAINTING TIE ENDS YELLOW TO INDICATE SWTICHES THUS PROTECTED, BUT THIS WORK IS NOT YET COMPLETE.  THE BULK OF HARMON-PECO ELECTROFROG SWITCH INSTALLATIONS ARE IN MILLERSBURG YARD, GREENSPRING YARD, AND THE SOUTH BRANCH.

M. L. Agne – Division Superintendent