Recently, Norfolk Southern's PRR position light signal replacement project reached Horseshoe Curve. With the help of an extremely generous, well established Altoona company, team CRHS is once again saving Conrail history from being melted down into nothing but a distant memory. See how!
Resting here are the 4 signal masts w/signals attached which once stood guard atop the MP 242 signal bridge on the west end of Horsehoe Curve. (This bridge was not visible from the curve itself.) A very special thanks goes out to Mr. Greg Saylor, of Saylor Sons Inc., a rigging/lifting company based out of Altoona. He took posession of these signals from Norfolk Southern and has graciously permitted the CRHS to pick any complete mast we want. Consequently, we will be taking posession of the first mast located at the bottom of this photo. This mast comes complete with both A and B heads, as well as the number plate 242.7. On behalf of the myself and the organization, we will be forever grateful for your donation; thank you!
Closeup of the B head on our mast. Note the door has been opened to view the electrical cabinet. There is an identical door on the reverse side with another terminal board as well. This B head served as the approach aspect for MG, the next interlocking west of the 242 bridge.
Another close up of the B head on our mast.
Closeup view of the A head on our mast. Norfolk Southern plucked a few light modules here and there off several heads on all 4 signal masts. They only plucked 1 light from the A head on the mast we'll be recieveing but fear not, we already have a light to fill the gap! Note the number plate is in excellent shape.
Here's the man of the hour himself, Mr. Greg Saylor, who has made made this entire acquistion possible. Greg is also on the board of directors at the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum. Along with his two other brothers, he owns and operates rigging/lifting business, Saylor Sons Inc. based out of Altoona. Greg's business has had a significant presence in central Pennsylvania for decades and was often contracted by Conrail for various jobs dating back through at least the early 1980s. Greg owns a large fleet of telescoping, heavy duty truck cranes and has done everything from erecting steel buildings to rerailing/transporting freight cars, and of course, replacing signal bridges. Greg poses next to the signal mast he is donating to us. Thanks again Greg!!!
Here's a picture of the rest of the signals that were on the 242 mast. Greg has ensured these signals will also be safe from scrapping.
Greg Saylor and Joe Marchinchin pose in front of the main span of the MP 242 intermediate signal bridge which once stood proud over the west end of Horseshoe Curve. Regretably, due to the design of this specific bridge, and the way it was installed along the right of way, the legs of this bridge could not be saved. Additionally, this bridge has several structural defects including damge from an impact many years ago (yes, something impacted the bridge span!) and is simply not suitable for restoration. By the time most of you read this, this span will be nothing more than pieces of scrap metal. Picture taken at Rose Yard.
The other end of the 242 bridge. Note that about 15 feet in on the bottom of the bridge there is a "kink." This did not happen during demolition; something struck the bridge many years ago and damaged it. Accident details are currently unknown, however for the sake of curiosity, the CRHS will look into what caused this accident assuming any reccords exist.
This picture is a closeup of one of several stirrups that were suspended by a cable which ran the entire length of the bridge span. These stirrups supported the massive bundles of electrical which fanned out to power each signal head on the bridge.
