From the Cab
Rarely do we get to see signals from the cab of a locomotive. Fortunately for us, a family friend patiently photographed many of the CSX Toledo Subdivision CPL signals as he traveled to Toledo from Cincinnati.
So join us on the sunny last day of 2007 as we go north toward Toledo, with almost all clear blocks along the way.
All photos by: J.W.
We start at the north
end of the Piqua, Ohio siding. We see a typical arrangement of a
bracket post signal accompanied by a
dwarf signal.
We wait at SW Cabin, just north of Sidney, Ohio. Our northbound trains meets a southbound at the north end of double track.
We approach the north end of double track at North Lima, Ohio. The two outer tracks are yard leads for the Lima yard. For details of this arrangment, click here.
At DT&I Junction, the DT&I (now Indiana and Ohio) joins the CSX main for the run to XN Tower at Leipsic. We see the DT&I come in to the right hand side.
South end of the lapped sidings at Cairo (pronounced CARE-oh) shows a signal bridge for the southbound signal. The dwarf is mounted to the bridge in a similar fashion as seen at South Deshler.
We approach Ottawa, Ohio and the north end of the passing siding. The mast/dwarf arrangement again is pretty typical.
At Kleman...we find the north end of the "Ottawa Loop" track, a 3 mile section of the former DT&I that was kept to serve local industries and to serve as a long passing track. The dwarf signal for the loop can be seen to the right of the relay case.
One of the few remaining intermediate CPL signal installations on the Toledo Subdivision is found at MP 153.6, between Kleman and XN Tower, the northern junction of the DT&I and south end of the Leipsic siding.
XN Tower, the former
crossing at grade of the DT&I, now the northern most end of trackage
rights for now the I&O. The DT&I swings off to the left and the Leipsic
siding begins
soon after.
The Norfolk Southern crosses the CSX at Leipsic Junction. Site of a cantilever for northbound trains and a mast/dwarf combo for southbound trains. Leipsic Junction tower remains standing.
Often photographed, the south end of Deshler sidings. We have an approach slow, indicating that we will be going around the south east connection and onto the Chicago Division.
The "red marker" on the bottom right is simply a faded marker background.
The signal bridge at South Deshler.
Still a bastion of CPL
signals, Deshler, Ohio is a hot spot in many regards. With a high train
count and small town flavor, it's a good place to spend a few hours.
The
cantilever has us an approach slow aspect, meaning we're leaving the
Toledo Subdivision to head east toward Fostoria.
"From the Cab" photos