Deshler Ohio

[Notch 8]

Question: Is the CTC Board still in the building at Deshler ?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalra ... 591526164/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalra ... 591526164/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalra ... 591526164/

Where is CSX at with installing PTC on this line ?

[JoJames]

Question: Is the CTC Board still in the building at Deshler ? No.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalra ... 591526164/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalra ... 591526164/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalra ... 591526164/

Where is CSX at with installing PTC on this line ?

. Like anywhere else still have work to be done.

[cr6903]

About 15 years ago I was at the B&O museum in Baltimore. I asked an Individual on the museum staff if the machine from Deshler was on the property and if it were someplace viewable. The reply I got was that it was on the property, in storage, not really viewable by the public. It was explained while some people would be interested in it, the majority of the people coming through would have no idea what it was or what it represented, therefore it was not high on the list of things to display.
While that is a shame, personally I feel they are correct in that assertation, after all, most people still refer to a train or locomotive as a "choo-choo". I'm sure joe public would not have any idea what it was.
Perhaps things have changed (I haven't been to Baltimore in quite a few years), but I doubt it. Either way, it was removed from Deshler tower long ago.

[Steve B]

"the majority of the people coming through would have no idea what it was or what it represented, therefore it was not high on the list of things to display."

What an idiotic response by the staff member. Hopefully that person isn't there anymore or has gotten some re-training. The museum's job is not just to have a sign labeling it as a CTC machine, but to INTERPRET it-- explain how it caused important change to railroads, and tell about the PEOPLE who designed and operated the panel. Visitors like to hear a good story and basically that's what skillful museum work is.

[SousaKerry]

Why is it that this stuff always ends up in a museum far from home and stored in a back room where there is no possible chance of local interest. For that matter whatever happened to F tower's board or the one from the old NYC board at Jackson st in Fostoria.

[cr6903]

The original Fostoria F Tower board is in the Marion (Ohio) depot. I am unsure as to who or what owns it, but at least it is in public view.
The CTC machine from the Jackson Street tower, I've heard, is at the Smithsonian. I have not been there so I can't say for sure, and I don't know if it is on display or in storage.

Stuff always moves around, these machines are no different. I once saw a B&O dwarf signal on ebay, located in Nevada. My own collection of items include some from Massachusetts and New Jersey (I'm in Northwest Ohio).

[SousaKerry]

It is odd how things turn up so far from home sometimes. My favorite museum is no exception either our main locomotive if from the Western Maryland and one of our cabooses is ex New Haven. But they are rolling stock and meant to move, although the WM 75 had to have been trucked or rode a flat car as max speed is only 35 even dead in tow without burning up the traction motor bearings.