PROJECT:
Signal 2038 Cable
(Barn 4 Lead)
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UPDATED:
07/25/2004
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DESCRIPTION:
Install a new Conduit/Cable for the northbound approach signal
on the Barn 4 Lead (Signal 2038). A conduit needs to be pushed under the track
and a replacement cable needs to be pulled and connected.
This will interconnect the Alpine Platform signal cabinets and the 2038 signal. |
TEAM LEAD:
Carpenter/ Holliday |
NEXT WORK:
Complete
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STATUS:
Commpleted Jun 2004
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PROGRESS:
Dec 27, 2003 -- Exploratory digging began to find conduit emerging from platform.
Trenching leading to area under track started and pushing of conduit under track was attempted.
Unfortunately "Perricrete" has slowed the operation to a crawl.
Jan 26, 2004 -- The perricrete was tougher than expected. After several failed attempts to bore under the tracks,
a new plan is now in work --- run rigid conduit between the ties and then slope down quickly
into pull boxes. This has been partially completed with the conduit bending planned for
this coming Saturday (Jan 31).
Feb 2, 2004 -- The conduit is bent, strapped to the tie, and the two ties have ballast back between them.
The trenches down the sides of the track are still exposed. Mike's idea, which worked extremely well,
was to slip the conduit under one rail and use a track jack to lift the conduit, bending it
where it went under the rail. Each end took two shots -- Mike and Allen would bend a little, put the conduit
in its final position, and see how much more it needed.
No buckling problems at all with this gradual approach, and it was very convenient
to be bending right next to the place for the conduit, so they could try the fit quickly.
The holes for the pull boxes are dug and the conduit has been cut to length, but that's as far as they went.
The next step is making the new trench along the west side of the track ballast.
Mike and Allen will probably go out next Friday to work some more.
Feb 9, 2004 -- Mike and Allen were out last Friday and got the trench dug along the track.
It was a little frustrating to spend most of the day fixing the trencher and only an hour or so digging.
They replaced the recoil starter pulley and clutch, and it's now much easy to start the trencher.
They'll be out next Friday to finish the trench (a couple of feet of hand digging near the water pipes)
and maybe lay in some conduit.
Feb 14, 2004 -- Mike and Allen made a lot of progress on the conduit.
They finished the trench and cut out spaces for the pull boxes.
They decided to keep the sweep ell on the conduit from the platform, put one box over the end of the ell,
and run conduit from that box toward the Barn 4 lead (the track they put the rigid conduit under).
Gene found a makeshift 45 degree bend to make the turn at the trench paralleling the track;
that eliminated one pull box in the run.
They ran conduit from the sweep ell's pull box down to the box at the undertrack conduit point.
The trench is filled in and all boxes are set in dirt,
except the one on the east side of the track right next to the 2038 signal.
Mike isn't planning to come out again until the regular fourth Saturday,
so not much more will be done on this project until then,
saving some of the fun (not requiring the use of picks and shovels) for the regular crew.
Gene said that Daryll is coming out Saturday
and will probably work on blasting out the mud from the platform end of the conduit.
Feb 28, 2004 -- Conduit completed and dirt cleaned out ready for pulling cable.
Mar 22, 2004 -- A large work party pulled in a continuous run of 5-conductor jacketed
cable to allow connection of signal 2038 (Barn 4 Lead approach signal).
The new conduit runs from the 2038 signal to the Alpine crossing equipment
cabinets via several pull boxes on the Alpine Platform.
Gene had thought that we would have to use wire pulling lubricant and more
than one day to get the cable pulled. We started at
about 10am and finished at around 3pm with an hour and a half out for lunch.
Gene's glad we listened to our wire pulling experts, Ray and Bob Hirth.
First the cable from the west platform across the tracks to the signal was
installed and then the cable up the west platform to the Alpine case.
The work party consisted of Allen Holliday, Gary See, Bob Hirth, Ray Hirth,
Mike Carpenter, Dave Morgan, Darrel Woodward, Paul Khoury, and Gene Cranston.
Also helping were the Hirth girls, Stephanie and Melanie. Darrel installed
an updated Searchlight mechanism in the 2038 signal case which had been
modified with a "red, lunar, yellow" lens set rather than the normal "red,
yellow, green" set. Soon this signal will be fully operational once we get
the new cable connected in the Alpine case.
UNK -- The old temporary audio track circuit (acting as a "wire" from the Alpine case) was removed and
the new cable connected. This cable provides 115vac power (the temporary romex cable can now be
removed) and 2038 Searchlight control signal. Power for the 2038 lamp comes from a power supply in the
signal's case. The signal can now display: RED - block occupied, LUNAR, and YELLOW.
Jun 7, 2004 -- The existing 2038 Searchlight style signal is hard to see due to the curve of the
barn-4 lead. Zeke, Darrel and Gene replaced this 2038 northbound approach signal (searchlight) on the
with a colorlight signal head (3 vertically arranged lights).
Visibility is a now a lot better. The curve is quite sharp so visibility is limited but
quite adequate for the 5 mph speed limit. An approaching train should see the
signal adequately to very well from the time it comes from behind the tree branch
that obscures it (about 150-200 feet) to just visible from a train stopped at the signal.
File oec2038.pdf on the drawings page is the up to date drawing for signal 2038.
It is a basic use of a retained neutral polar relay (DP14) to control a colorlight signal
with a polarized line. Just like a searchlight signal control,
positive polarity gives the higher speed aspect, reverse polarity gives the
lower speed aspect, and no line voltage gives a red signal.
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