Of Interlockings And Other Machines ...: Raritan, NJ and a gauntlet track in Union, 2024

Saturday, June 29, 2024

Raritan, NJ and a gauntlet track in Union, 2024

Deutsche Version dieses Postings

The following pictures are from a short trip to Raritan, about 30 miles west of Newark. It was only after arriving there that I pulled out my cell phone to record the ride into the siding:

After arrival, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

Signals, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

The old "RA/Boyd Tower" is apparently no longer used as a signal box (all internet posts only refer to it in the past), but is fully maintained and also has air conditioning. So something is still going on in there ...:

RA/Boyd Tower, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

Once again the signal cantilever:

Signals, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

Here one can still see heavy rails fixed by spikes:

Spiked rails, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

The spikes do not exert any (or much) vertical force, so it does not matter if they move (a little) out of the sleepers:

Spiked rails, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

There are insulating joints in all rails below the signal:

Insulating joints, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

Here is a picture of the switch machine:

Switch machine, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

Apparently balises are also used here—but I haven't figured out what for:

Two balises, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

Raritan is a typical small American town that was pretty sleepy on this cold day. The usual overhead power and telephone lines are probably only noticeable to Europeans:

Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

The old station building has been beautifully restored:

Station building, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

Information about its history is posted outside:

Station history, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024

I interrupted my return trip to Newark Union to take pictures of the gauntlet tracks, which are used to guide freight trains with their larger profile past the platforms: