A glimpse into Dr. Fred Ripley’s Pennsylvania Layout

At the 4-track interlocking at Smithville, OH (MP 129.5 from Pittsburgh on PRR’s Pittsburgh-Chicago main line), we see two scenes, taken two years apart.   In April 1958, coming out of the sunrise and facing the camera, is the westbound New York-Chicago “Admiral”, a maid-of-all-work schedule with significant head-end traffic as well as coaches, a diner, and sleepers, right on schedule at 7:48 AM.   A pair of E-8’s (which the PRR calls EP-22’s) is the power.

About to meet No. 51 is eastbound CS-6, a Chicago to Conway freight, running slightly behind schedule & powered by two FM “Erie-Builts” (FF-20’s to the PRR).