Station lighting prior to rural electrification

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Frank,

Off hand, I don't know of any definitive info on N&W station electrical
supply pre 1930's, or even what the signal system supply was in those days.
Probably the best clues come from reviewing the results of a search of the
Va. Tech photo collection for "stations."  I'm confident that these station
photos are mostly from the 1915 - 1920 period of ICC-mandated property
valuation activity.  The pole lines in these pictures look different from
the more modern pole lines with their 3-phase, 4800 volt lines and bayonet
static line supports.  In some photos the pole lines appear to come into the
station at right angles to the track, suggesting a non-railroad supply.  In
other photos, such as
http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/norfolksouthern/full/ns510.jpeg
the pole line feeding the station runs parallel to the track, suggesting a
railroad supply.

For a couple of interesting 1917 views of a power house (presumably for the
signal system) at Dwight on the Norfolk Division, check out these two links
to the Va Tech photo collection:

http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/norfolksouthern/glass_plates/screen/03GP0360.jpg

http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/norfolksouthern/glass_plates/screen/03GP0391.jpg

This power house may be a good illustration how the N&W obtained power for
its signal system before rural electrification.

Gordon Hamilton

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 2:31 AM
Subject: Station lighting prior to rural electrification



> Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:51:47 -0400

> From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org

> Subject: Re: Lineside  Poles.

> To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

>

>

>

>

> July 1, 2005

>

> Good morning, Gordon:

>

> Before rural electrification, electricity usage in

> small communities and farming areas was uncommon.

> While some small stations and block offices utilized

> oil lamp lighting, others were wired for about 60

> amps.  I suppose the 4,800 volt pole line was the

> source of station power during the pre-1930s era.

>

> If anything turns up in the Archives that supports or

> refutes this theory, I'd like to learn about it.  In

> the meantime, turn on the station air conditioning

> (read: open the windows) and keep cool this Summer!

>

> Frank

>

>

>

> Dr. Frank R. Scheer, Curator

> Railway Mail Service Library, Inc.

> f_scheer at yahoo.com

> (202) 268-2121 - weekday office

> (540) 837-9090 - weekend afternoons

> in the former N&W station on VA rte 723

> 117 East Main Street

> Boyce  VA  22620-9639

>

> Visit at http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org

>

>

>

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