NW Indiana PTC project.

[justalurker66]

CP 435 was upgraded within the past day or so, according to another forum (ATCS confirms it). I wonder how soon CP 437 will happen.

I am surprised that they didn't do CP 437 first ... but CP 435 is smaller and a lot easier to complete. CP 426 is not being received at the moment. I am still watching for CP 423 as I expect that one to be done before CP 421 (primarily to put in the RH crossover from 2 to 3).

[tttodisp]

CP 437 will also require coordination with CN, so that could impact when it gets done. Hopefully CN ATCS will get a view of NS (as part of PTC) like we are seeing elsewhere with shared data.

[justalurker66]

New EB cantilever

Old WB signals reused

New signals at 431

Note the reuse of the existing WB signals at the CP. The signals at intermediate 433 did not change. The signals at 431 were changed with a second head (two signals away from CP 435). It looks like the signals at intermediate 429 will not change.

There are mounts for a second head for the EB signals at 431.

There is a work trailer at the 429 signals. I believe CP 426 will be next.

[tttodisp]

Thanks for the photos. Have we seen reused signals before? It makes one wonder if there are future plans there, so they didn't want to install the new signals.

[LakeATCS]

I remember seeing that on the plans and wondering.

CP358 won't have it's signals changed at all thanks to the 2007 CPR payed for upgrades.

[justalurker66]

Yep. Most of the reused I have seen were vader signals. As Lake notes, the signals at Butler will be reused (including NYC signal heads).

[LakeATCS]

Already happened, but I will go ahead and post it anyway,

Effective 12:01 PM, Monday, 09-11-17,

#1 power crossover has been installed at MP CD 435.4, for Eastward movements from the Main 1Track to the Main 2 Track
#3 power switch has been installed at MP CD 435.3, for Westward movements from the Main 2 Track to the Signaled Siding Track
#5 power crossover has been installed at MP CD 435.3, for Eastward movements from the Main 2 Track to the Main 1 Track

2E located over and to the right of the Main 1 Track on a cantilever mast at MP CD 435.4
4EA located over and to the right of the Main 2 Track on a cantilever mast at MP CD 435.4.
4ED located to the right of the Controlled Siding Track on a high signal mast at MP CD 435.4.
2W located to the right of the Main 1 Track on a high signal mast at MP CD 435.2
4W located to the left of the Main 2 Track on a high signal mast at MP CD 435.4.

New Automatic Signals 4332E, 4332W, 4331E, 4331W at MP CD 433.4

[LakeATCS]

Something just came up with the address 75508800060202

Its big 80 bits. But I cant quite figure out what it should be.

There is no 006 on the 160 code line
006 on the 159 Code line is CP 435, which has been swapped already.
006 on the 158 code line is CP 506, which has been swapped already.

I think it is CP 437. But it is 005.

[tttodisp]

One would think the CP 437 is next, but you are right in expecting a different address. I presume we will know in a week or so.

[justalurker66]

437 is the only big one left ... it looks like someone just used a different number.

I heard a word that 437 was planned for the 11th? 12th? That would fit the "two week" testing.

[LakeATCS]

Well later on they changed the address to 005. I guess someone goofed.

[justalurker66]

I noticed today that intermediates at 407, 410, 414 and 419 are now "approach lit" (dark when no train in block). CPs 421, 417 and 412 remain constant lit. The intermediates between Elkhart and Goshen have been constant lit since the triple track project. I have not checked all the signals between 407 and Chicago, but I expect any Chicago Line intermediates that are not "approach lit" will be soon.

[tttodisp]

Well later on they changed the address to 005. I guess someone goofed.

CN has had a new address 71034110150102 active this week for South Bend and will have all of the NS data. Hopefully we will see the NS bulletin soon.

[LakeATCS]

Okay here we go.

New CP 437 at MP CD 437.5

Cut over is at 12:01pm Sunday.

#1 power crossover has been installed at MP CD 437.5, for Eastward movements from the Main 1 Track to the Main 2 Track.
#3 power switch has been installed at MP CD 437.2, for Westward movements from the Main 2 Track to the CN Main 1 Track.
#5 power crossover has been installed at MP CD 437.2, for Eastward movements from the Main 2 Track to the Main 1 Track.
#7 power switch has been installed at MP CD 437.1, for Westward movements from the Main 2 Track to the CN Main 2 Track.
#9 power switch has been installed at MP CD 437.1, for Westward movements from the CN Main 2 Track to the Oliver Lead Track.
#11 power switch has been installed at MP CD 437.1, for Eastward movements from the Main 2 Track to the Signaled Siding Track.
#13 power crossover has been installed at MP CD 437.0, for Eastward movements from the Main 2 Track to the Main 1Track.
#15 power switch has been installed at MP CD 437.0, for Eastward movements from the Main 1 Track to the CN Main 1 Track.
#17 power switch has been installed at MP CD 437.9, for Eastward movements from the Main 1 Track to the CN Main 2 Track.

2W Signal located to the right of the CN Main 1 track on a high signal mast at MP CD 436.7
6WA Signal located over and to the right of the Main 1 track on a cantilever mast at MP CD 436.7
6WD Signal located to the left of the CN Main 2 track on a high signal mast at MP CD 436.7
8WA Signal located over and to the right of the Main 2 track on a cantilever mast at MP CD 436.7
8WD Home Signal located to the left of the Signaled Siding Track on a High signal mast at MP CD 437.0

2E Signal located to the left of the Main 1 track on a high signal mast at MP CD 437.5
4EA Signal located to the right of the Main 2 track on a high signal mast at MP CD 437.5
4ED Signal located to the left of the CN Main 1 track on a high signal mast at MP CD 437.4
8EA Signal located to the right of the CN Main 2 track on a high signal mast at MP CD 437.4
8ED Signal located to the right of the Oliver Yard Lead track on a high signal mast at MP CD 437.4

New automatics as 440 442 444 and 446

So I guess 448 will be the last plant that needs changing in NW Indiana. Then it will just be NE Indiana stuff.

Also the CN signals at 437 will show GTW/CN aspects.

[LakeATCS]

Well looks like the dirty deed is under way

[justalurker66]

So I guess 448 will be the last plant that needs changing in NW Indiana. Then it will just be NE Indiana stuff.

I need to take another look at CP 448 ... I have looked when driving by but have not seen any new signals. (Photo taken in July.)

Also the CN signals at 437 will show GTW/CN aspects.

Here is a look at the CN Eastbound signals and their replacements in July. The signal on the Oliver Lead is out of frame to the right and is a standard three headed NS signal (one over three over three). The signals on CN are one over three as shown. (CN uses route based signals with flashing red for Restricting ... with these heads all aspects other than Stop and Restricting would be diverging.)

[LakeATCS]

Looks like that the number of blocks will expand between 448 and 437 once done. 437 is showing two blocks to the west of the plant. And I suspect that 448 will to the east once upgraded.

[LakeATCS]

Something is going on at 448. All switches out of correspondence.

448 is Unique in that its got a Hayes power derail, and not a switch machine powered split rail.

[justalurker66]

Looks like that the number of blocks will expand between 448 and 437 once done. 437 is showing two blocks to the west of the plant. And I suspect that 448 will to the east once upgraded.

I hope the bits are discrete - although the recent double blocks at other CPs have not been (for example AEA includes 1EA - a train in 1EA shows both bits occupied).

As for CP 448 ... CP 417 was reworked when CP 421 was upgraded. Not for the same reasons but getting CP 448 done is a good thing.

BTW: It is snowing.

[LakeATCS]

I wonder if they are doing switch machine replacement while 437 is being tested.

One thing about these PTC upgrades, is they seem to want all the GRS machines to be the current revision. 5H. Some of these plants had some old revsion all the way back to 5A machines!