Interlocking Walkthrough: STONY

STONY interlocking is found towards the eastern end of the Port Jefferson Branch. Located to the either side of Stony Brook station, STONY 1 and STONY 2 are two simple switches that make up an interlocking very similar to the other Port Jefferson Branch ones.  Instead of having a passing siding to either side of the station, the station itself is the passing siding with platforms on either end.

The track here is on quite an angle (almost vertical!) which makes it tough to get the diagram in without making it too big or grainy.  Nevertheless, the diagram's below and here's a bird's eye view of the location.

STONY interlocking is roughly 53 miles away from Long Island City.  STONY 1 which is west/compass south of the station platforms, takes the single Port Jefferson track and splits it into two station tracks.  On the other side of the platforms, STONY 2 interlocking contains a switch that merges the two tracks back into one.

This simple interlocking doesn't have much history behind it either.  Unlike much of the other Port Jefferson Branch interlockings, this interlocking wasn't two separate interlockings that were later combined into one.  This interlocking is also is considerably newer than the other Port Jefferson Branch interlockings (STONY 1 and STONY 2 both went into service in 1992).  Originally the Port Jefferson Branch was Manual Block Territory.  In the 1960's signalization was extended up through Smithtown (covering all interlockings through POST and HARE).  In the POST interlocking walkthrough post, Joe Versaggi commented that at that time, Smithtwon was the turn-back point for much of Port Jefferson Branch service.  East of Smithtown, the railroad was Manual Block controlled by the Port Jefferson station ticket agent who doubled as the block operator.

In the early 1990's, signalization was extended to include the entire Port Jefferson Branch and in 1992 STONY and JEFF interlockings came online.

(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

STONY interlocking still has its position light signals that were installed in the 1990's.  A photo of STONY 1 interlocking is pictured at the right, looking west from the station platforms.

The nearest interlockings to here are POST interlocking to the west and JEFF interlocking to the east.

Unfortunatly we've been in a small slump of fairly uninteresting interlockings lately.  But don't worry, things get much more exiting next week when we visit the complex VALLEY interlocking!