Subdivision Question

Discussion in 'General' started by trainchaser007 (Brandon Adams RIP 9/22/2017), Jun 13, 2016.

  1. trainchaser007 (Brandon Adams RIP 9/22/2017)

    trainchaser007 (Brandon Adams RIP 9/22/2017) Passed away September 22, 2017

    Were subdivisions broken down any further and if so, what were they called?
     
  2. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Yes.

    A sub-division could possess branches, .e.g. The Ozark Branch and the Aurora Branch were part of the Springfield Sub. From a MOW and Structures standpoint, each subdivision and branch was divided into 6-10 mile sections, which were under the supervision of a section foreman. The attachments show how portions of the Northern Division were named and organized.

    1. The Frisco utilized Section Gangs of three different sizes, i.e., 10 men, 5 men, or 3 men. A Section Foreman, who reported to the Roadmaster, supervised the section men. The gang’s size was determined by the size of its territory and the maintenance level that territory required.

      The Section Foreman and his men were responsible for the roadbed, drainage, ballast, ties, tie plates, rail anchors, rail, angle bars, line, surface, elevation, gauge, tamping, turnouts, policing, road crossings, fences, cattle guards, track cars, and tools. The foreman and his gang served as good-will ambassadors between the local landowner and the railroad. The gang was never “off” the clock, and the gang’s duties required that it be out in all sorts of weather conditions.

      The rules prohibited any mode of dress that included the colors red, yellow, or green. The railroad gave the foreman the gang’s only switch key, which was not to leave his possession at any time except for when he was on leave. If the key became lost, the railroad docked the foreman’s salary $0.50.

      In order to carry out its duties, the well-equipped gang had adzes, axes, ballast forks, claw bar, lining bars, side tamping bars, brooms, several varieties of oil cans, hand car/track car, push car, track chisels, tin cups, drill, drill bits files, funnels, grindstone set, extra handles, hand axe, brush hook, track jacks, water keg, lanterns (red, green, white, & yellow), extra globes of the aforementioned colors, track levels, spike mauls, clay picks, tamping picks, pike pole, wire pliers, post hole diggers, track punch, rakes, book of rules, hand saws, scythes, track shovels, scoop shovels, signal flags (red, yellow, & green), spike pullers, 50 foot tape, torches, torpedoes, track gauge, wheelbarrow, whetstones, wire stretchers, monkey wrenches, and telegraph wire.
     

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    Last edited: Jun 14, 2016
  3. trainchaser007 (Brandon Adams RIP 9/22/2017)

    trainchaser007 (Brandon Adams RIP 9/22/2017) Passed away September 22, 2017

    Knowing only one definition of "torpedo" until now, I couldn't help but wonder why a section gang would need torpedoes.

    Unless they were in charge of maintaining and defending sea port tracks. Now I know. :LOL::ROFLMAO::D:p

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detonator_(railway)

    Seriously though, I sincerely appreciate the information.

    Do you know where I might find similar information for the Birmingham Subdivision?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 15, 2024

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