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Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Avid Reader on Sat Jun 16 10:55:48 2018

It looks like a double slip switch for a trolley set in cobble stones.
A steam train on the Third Avenue El, over the Bowery, New York City, 1896.

Data 1896
Fonte The New York Times Photo Archive, via the Times store here.


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(1478438)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Sat Jun 16 11:58:45 2018, in response to Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Avid Reader on Sat Jun 16 10:55:48 2018.

If the date is 1896, those are cable cars.

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(1478441)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Ancient Mariner on Sat Jun 16 12:40:37 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Stephen Bauman on Sat Jun 16 11:58:45 2018.

And of course, the cable slots are clearly visible in spots. But here's a question - how do cable cars operate over switches? Obviously the cable which the car is gripping can't split into two. Can anyone explain this?

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(1478444)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by George Foelschow on Sat Jun 16 13:26:22 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Ancient Mariner on Sat Jun 16 12:40:37 2018.

Using San Francisco as an example, the grip operator has to "let go" in advance of the switch and "pick up" the cable after traversing the switch. At an intersection such as California and Powell, one cable is over the intersecting cable. In that case, only the under grip has to let go.

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(1478445)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by chud1 on Sat Jun 16 14:09:46 2018, in response to Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Avid Reader on Sat Jun 16 10:55:48 2018.

5 drooling stars out of 5 drooling stars for this picture.
chud1.
:).....

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(1478446)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Dave on Sat Jun 16 14:24:55 2018, in response to Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Avid Reader on Sat Jun 16 10:55:48 2018.

That's a single slip switch. Here's what a double slip switch looks like:



Here's a single slip switch, like in your picture:



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(1478453)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by chud1 on Sat Jun 16 15:54:03 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Dave on Sat Jun 16 14:24:55 2018.

5 drooling stars out of 5 drooling sars for this.
chud1.
:).....

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(1478454)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by randyo on Sat Jun 16 16:05:12 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by George Foelschow on Sat Jun 16 13:26:22 2018.

Although I don’t have first hand knowledge, I suspect that the California St cable is the one blow the Powell St cable since California St is relatively level whereas Powell is on a hill. I think that is the Powell St car going uphill has to keep the cable gripped at all times while moving whereas the California St car could coast across the intersection. For those of you who have never been to San Francisco, the Powell cars stop in the middle of the intersections where the street is level. Otherwise it would be extremely difficult to pick up the cable on the upgrade.

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(1478455)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Avid Reader on Sat Jun 16 16:26:00 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Dave on Sat Jun 16 14:24:55 2018.

Dave you are correct!
After closer examination my old eyes see the difference.

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(1478460)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Sat Jun 16 19:30:41 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by randyo on Sat Jun 16 16:05:12 2018.

IINM the California St. cable is on top. I rode on the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines in June of 1981 and recall someone (perhaps the conductor) mentioning that the gripman has to drop the cable at that intersection.

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(1478463)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Sat Jun 16 19:40:00 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Ancient Mariner on Sat Jun 16 12:40:37 2018.

how do cable cars operate over switches?

The same way conduit streetcars had to. They coast.

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(1478464)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by italianstallion on Sat Jun 16 19:56:43 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Dave on Sat Jun 16 14:24:55 2018.

I'm confused. Your single-slip picture doesn't show a switch, just a crossover.

And your double-switch looks like the original photo to me.

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(1478466)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Jersey Mike on Sat Jun 16 20:19:44 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by italianstallion on Sat Jun 16 19:56:43 2018.

Yeah, that's just a diamond crossing with what looks to be a non-cable car track.

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(1478471)

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Re: Photo of double slip switch for cable car

Posted by Olog-hai on Sat Jun 16 21:20:13 2018, in response to Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Avid Reader on Sat Jun 16 10:55:48 2018.

Don't see trolley wires. And this would be prior to electrification FWICS.

I'd say the "wow" factor would be how the street trackage is more complex than the elevated.

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(1478472)

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Re: Photo of double slip switch for cable car

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Sat Jun 16 21:26:52 2018, in response to Re: Photo of double slip switch for cable car, posted by Olog-hai on Sat Jun 16 21:20:13 2018.

Don't see trolley wires.

One wouldn't expect to see them on the Bowery, even after electrification.

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(1478480)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Dave on Sat Jun 16 23:42:10 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by italianstallion on Sat Jun 16 19:56:43 2018.

Yeah, the single slip picture was not what I thought I was posting. The top picture shows both single slip (top) and double slip(bottom) switches.



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(1478493)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by qveensboro_plaza on Sun Jun 17 08:07:50 2018, in response to Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Avid Reader on Sat Jun 16 10:55:48 2018.

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Here is a picture from street level a few years later - note the El is now electrified.
It is difficult to see whether the slip switches are still in place, but they appear to have been removed.
The middle trolley track turns north onto The Bowery from Grand Street.
Does anyone know what that route was?

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(1478503)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by X-Astorian on Sun Jun 17 09:08:49 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by qveensboro_plaza on Sun Jun 17 08:07:50 2018.

Looking at the map in Tracks of New York #1, it was Fourth and Madison Av.

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(1478510)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Broadway Lion on Sun Jun 17 11:58:17 2018, in response to Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Avid Reader on Sat Jun 16 10:55:48 2018.

Middle track has no gripway... Must be a horse drawn route.

ROAR

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(1478529)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by randyo on Sun Jun 17 15:16:42 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Sat Jun 16 19:30:41 2018.

That's interesting since it would seem it’s more critical for a Powell cars to maintain the grip.

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(1478643)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by Dupont Circle Station on Mon Jun 18 14:49:42 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by randyo on Sat Jun 16 16:05:12 2018.

California comes up the same hill; just from further east on Market.

Trivia note: I grew up on that hill, a couple of blocks up (to the right in this view) from California. :)



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(1478648)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by chud1 on Mon Jun 18 15:25:56 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Dupont Circle Station on Mon Jun 18 14:49:42 2018.

5 drooling out of 5 drooling stars for this picture.
chud1.
:).....

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(1478694)

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Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW

Posted by randyo on Mon Jun 18 19:17:32 2018, in response to Re: Photo of Double slip switch for trolley WOW, posted by Dupont Circle Station on Mon Jun 18 14:49:42 2018.

But isn’t it completely or almost completely level at the point where it crosses Powell?

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