This is an interesting photo. The 6802 is indeed listed as an FTA but seems to have a later F-type roof and F-2 or F3 side panels. The second unit appears to have six portholes and a later type roof also. The third and fourth unit have unique roof features that don’t match either FTs or F3s. The fourth unit also has the later side panels (F2A). Altogether very interesting shot. I know Southern tinkered with their Fs so I wonder what they did here.
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Very nice old view! That'd be a northbound train coming from Macon. Here's a 2003 version of the same scene: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/17871/
Guess I need to post an even more-modern view for comparison. Thanks for posting this!
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| Posted by Andrew on July 13, 2024 | |
What is the "Switch" on the track just to the left of the third and fourth loco as we look at it? Is it even a switch or are my new spectacles deceiving me?
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I love this photo--thanks for sharing it!
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That's a slip switch. They are an absolute bear to get adjusted right and to maintain so I hear. They are getting rare seem to only be used where space is at a premium such as big city terminals.
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Andrew, it's a double slip switch, sometimes called a puzzle switch. It's a cross between a diamond and a pair of switches. A train can go straight through on either track or change tracks. As Sid noted, you don't often see them except in places where space is at a premium. If there's room to spread out, a pair of switches gets the same result with much less fuss. A pair of normal switches would have four movable points in all. A double slip has eight, sometimes more.
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