Signal aspects...

[NW Modeling List]

Jimmy and Ben,

Ada and Ingleside are definately not control points or hold-outs, in any direction.  I surmised at one time that since the eastbound side was downhill, it would make sense to have eastbounds stop if needed, even at an intermediate, as opposed to having them be able to run at a restricting and possibly lose brakes at such a low speed (think steam engines with no dynamics at all, or N&Ws diesels with no extended-range dynamics).  Westbound empties climbing the hill would need a restricting so as to not have to stop and restart on the grade if another westbound was going through RD.  That may be a totally incorrect assumption though.

Also, in catalogging the Library of Virginia collection at the Archives, we found a roll of track drawings from just west Ada to beyond Bachelors (outlining the addition of a third track, never done as N&W CTC'd the eastbound main...) there was a one-way crossover at Ada, but even then, the signal that sits at Ada was an approach (?) for the signal that actually protected the crossover.  Louis Newton recalled a story of there being a hand-throw crossover near Bachelors (east of Ingleside), so as to allow an engineer who continually broke his train in two on the curve east of there run around and reassemble his train... they eventually named the curve for him... Bachelors ;

Robb Fisher
RFDI