In this interlocking walkthrough, ooof, it's been a while, we're taken across the bay to the beautiful enclave of Long Beach, home to one of the most interesting interlockings the railroad has to offer.
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| Diesel equipment over LEAD |
Switches
Today's post, however, will focus on the tracks themselves. The interlocking begins just east of the Long Beach grade crossing, where track 2 merges into track 1 to head east. As soon as the tracks merge, the speed limit drops to 30 mph.
The speed limits into Long Beach are quite brutal, as southbound trains get knocked down a cab aspect signal or two because these trains are terminating, and southbound trains typically get knocked down to 15 on the bridge, and to the even worse 5 mph for the final stretch into the station. Northbound trains, are lucky enough to go on the bridge going 30.
| Closeup of the drawbridge |
Signals
LEAD consists of your typical Pensy-style position-light signals.
Towers
LEAD is home to one of the LIRR's only remaining towers! LEAD Tower is a dark brick structure, seen to the side of the drawbridge. LEAD Tower exists due to the drawbridge. While they could possibly control the interlocking via Jamaica, the LIRR likes to play it safe considering when it comes to moveable bridges, it's better to have a human on site making sure there's no technical difficulties because if something malfunctioned, things would not be good.
Well, that should conclude LEAD's Interlocking Walkthrough. For those of you that follow the blog (If you do, I highly appreciate it), tomorrow will be looking futher into the LIRR's beach services (including the Long Beach Branch).