“Coxo” has become a spur track again after many years of being only a crossing name.
Some may wonder how you install a new switch into railroad that is still operating passenger, and work trains so I will list a few steps in the manner that this took place.
You ship in all the material needed, in this case from the removal of the east switch on Cumbres siding. When everything is on hand, post a bulletin order for a slow speed to fit the conditions. Then they slipped out the ties where the frog will go and install new switch timber under the rails and install the guard rail opposite that future frog on the main, done on Monday 9/28/09. The existing joints in the rails were the same when the old switch used to exist there, so some of the patch rails were removed to install the switch rails and points on the new head timber and longer ties for the heal. Several or all of the remainder switch timber are installed under the existing rails and the tangent main is spiked up for passing trains. Then the switch stand was put on the head timbers and this was installed by p.m. on Tuesday 9/29/09. The switch point would remain spiked tight until the switch is ready for service. Next the frog was installed and the turn-out side rails between PS and PF were installed and spiked to the new switch timber. If all the original ties have not yet been removed from under the main track between the switch-point and the frog, they can now be un-spiked and removed and replaced with the remainder new switch timber, and spiked up. The turn-out side rails can now be installed and the remainder long timber beyond the frog to the clearance point are installed and spiked under the main line rails. At last, on Wednesday, the one rail after the frog was spiked to the long timber, and only the siding is waiting to be built, possibly using some of these ties removed from the switch area and with half new ties. The rails are on hand for some of the spur.
Upon completion of the stub ending siding, and several train movement over the switch to stabilize the track through the switch on its new stone base, the switch will be inspected, tamped, and tested. If they find all to be working as intended, the track will be put into service, and eventually the slow order will be removed. As I stated before, this siding may not be published in the timetable but retained for only maintenance of way service, and use under the direction of the dispatcher or road foreman. History has been made again on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR.
