Avard Subdivision CTC - New Signals and Dispatching Installation Activation - 11/20/2012

Today we put in service the first part of the CTC project for the Avard sub.

It starts at the new control point Avery at Cherokee Yard's Restricted Limits and runs to West Mannford.

I never would have dreamed I would have seen it in my life time let alone be part of putting it in service.

Steve.

 

Is this part of the Federal PTC requirements?

 

It will be PTC later but this is part of speeding up priority traffic on this line now referred to as a bottle neck.

All those years with only a couple of daily freights and a local or two now its a priority line.

70 mph running is in the near future also for the areas where it isn't so curvy.

 

This is going to sound like a really stupid questions seeing as how I claim to model the Avard Sub.

How was it controlled before? Track warrants?

 

Steve,

Thanks for the picture of the Begin CTC sign and signal.

Here's a picture of BNSF 7567 East at WSS Callahan on Christmas Eve.



Do you have any idea when this area will be put in service?

I grew up when there were just 73, 176, and 791. I'll miss hearing the Track Warrants, but it's good to see more traffic on the line.

Do you know any current train symbols such as S-MEMLAC that travel the Avard Subdivision?

Thanks and Happy New Year.

Norman Olmstead

 

Anything similar in store for the Madill Sub?

Those trips can be long south of the Red River in dark territory.

 

All the CTC from Tulsa to Avard is in service and track work is progressing for 70mph running where possible.

Its a funny world some times.

Steve.

 

Steve,

Where did the old signal towers go ?

I would love to buy a Frisco block signal or something to put with caboose SLSF 1249 on its display track.

 

The Perry Sub and the Avard Sub were dark except that between Enid and Blanton.

Block signals and indicators were used between these stations per Rules 261 - 264.

The ATSF had trackage rights over this portion of the Avard Sub.

 

The new timetable came out today and what a difference!

Congratulations on the installation.

Steve.

 

How much 70 mph do you have on the Avard Subdivision now?

I was working in Tulsa when the QLA and QSF began running to Avard instead of Quanah, and we thought that was the best it could be. I always wondered if the track and signals would be improved to allow faster than 49 mph running on this stretch.

The Frisco was in danger of loosing this high priority bridge traffic, and by running through Enid instead of OKC, the business was saved. Little did we know that one day this trackage would have higher traffic levels than the Creek Sub which did receive CTC years ago.

Terry

 

I recently saw the same type of signaling going up on the St. Louis to Springfield stretch.

Faster speed there too?

Dan

 

Almost 100 miles. From Black Bear to Avard it's 70, but it's still 49 from Black Bear to Tulsa according to the new timetable.

 

Another 23 miles or so of 70 just got added to the Avard Subdivision today.

 

Thanks to the Keystone Lake being built part of the old curvy line through the town of Keystone was replaced with some straight track from old Highway 51 to West of Mannford.

This area will see a speed increase also, but the old curvy area between Avery to Fisher will have to be worked on.

The little transcon as we call it is a hot line for sure.

Next step is double track.

Nothing surprises me any more.

Ship It On The Frisco!

Steve