The Crossbar System That Controlled MIT Trains

During the period 1962-1966, members of the Tech Model Railroad Club of MIT conceived and constructed an unusual use for telephone equipment that functioned essentially as a combinatorial network. Specifically, they used five10x10 crossbar switches and more than 100 wire-spring relays to construct a control system for their large HO-gauge model railroad. Pictures of this control system can be seen at http://tmrc.mit.edu/progress/images.tcl?year=2002&month=5&day=26p;day=26. Like all good electromechanical telephone systems, it remained in service for almost 40 years, even surviving a move between buildings. In 2002, it was replaced by an electronic system (not related to telephone systems) and retired to the New England Museum of Telephony ("The Telephone Museum") in Ellsworth, Maine, where it has been stored since that time. Unfortunately, the folks at that museum have decided to "de-accession" it, as it is not really part of their mission, and is taking up too much space. It is also likely to get damaged by future activities near its present location. If you have confirmed that someone or some organization would like it, please let me know. The deadline before scrapping begins is October 15th.