For years, the CP-83 diamond where NECR's north-south line crossed the CSX/Conrail B&A main at Palmer required only manual control from the NECR to make its frequent yard moves. In an old wayside box, if a white light bulb was illuminated indicating no B&A traffic was in the blocks surrounding the diamond, the crewman pushed a button requesting permission to cross, a tri-light signal granted a permissive aspect and away the move went. But PTC assumes unauthorized NECR incursions might occur while a CSX or Amtrak train occupies the diamond so a PTC-controlled split-rail derail switch are to be installed ahead of the hand throw switch (and on the north side too) to prevent rogue moves from colliding with speeding B&A moves. And there's a modified on-demand protocol for NECR to request permission to cross the diamond.

Photographed by John Barlow, May 31, 2019.
Added to the photo archive by John Barlow, June 2, 2019.
Railroad: New England Central.

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