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Griswold Grade Crossing Signal Lights
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46303		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Bobharbison [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 12:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Griswold Grade Crossing Signal Lights
I have a set of Griswold crossing lights. No, I do not also have the rotating stop sign that Griswold is most famous for.

Is there any special value to the Griswold lights as compared to Western Cullen Hayes or GRS signal lights? Is there anyone who would need this style of lights to complete a project or are they otherwise more useful than normal. I've had them about 25 years or so, they were removed when a crossing was upgraded to more modern lights.

(And, yes, obtained legally, we're a railroad contractor. Had I not snagged them, we'd have scrapped them.)
Author:  kevin kohls [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Griswold Grade Crossing Signal Lights
Post them on one of the FB Railroad Signal sites. There are many young signal collectors these days, which is good for the hobby.
Kevin K
Author:  Bobharbison [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 1:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Griswold Grade Crossing Signal Lights
Kevin, I have a potential buyer, that's why I looked at them and discovered the brand.

However, I want to be sure somebody out there isn't restoring one of the famous Griswold rotating stop sign signals and later says "Holy crap! You had the matching lights? We've been searching the country for a set of those for years!"

I suspect they're simply "plain vanilla" lights, there's plenty of them out there and there's no value other than the usual market. But I wanted to double check before letting the get away.
Author:  kevin kohls [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Griswold Grade Crossing Signal Lights
Griswold had their own style of lamps for the crossing signals and were equipped with ATOMIC lenses ; whatever that meant, so they aren't that common.

FOR MY FELLOW READERS I OFFER THIS FOR CONSIDERATION:
Most people in the railroad hobby are attracted to locomotives, cars, and structures; and their isn't much appreciation for signals. I was one of those people until I spent about 30 years doing signal research and discovered that Railroad Signaling was vastly more interesting and creative than I had ever imagined ! For example, the evolution of crossing protection is amazing, from a human crossing guard with a shanty and hand held flag followed by WIG WAG signals and finally flashing crossing light signals; many; many; more different variations than I ever imagined. I haven't mentioned BLOCK SIGNALS ; so many different kinds that most fans have no idea about !
I encourage all RR MUSEUMS that have signals laying on the scrap pile; and that is many museums; TAKE ANOTHER LOOK ! You are missing out on an important part of RR HISTORY !!!!
Kevin K
Author:  BnOTolSub [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Griswold Grade Crossing Signal Lights
kevin kohls wrote:
FOR MY FELLOW READERS I OFFER THIS FOR CONSIDERATION:
Most people in the railroad hobby are attracted to locomotives, cars, and structures; and their isn't much appreciation for signals. I was one of those people until I spent about 30 years doing signal research and discovered that Railroad Signaling was vastly more interesting and creative than I had ever imagined ! For example, the evolution of crossing protection is amazing, from a human crossing guard with a shanty and hand held flag followed by WIG WAG signals and finally flashing crossing light signals; many; many; more different variations than I ever imagined. I haven't mentioned BLOCK SIGNALS ; so many different kinds that most fans have no idea about !
I encourage all RR MUSEUMS that have signals laying on the scrap pile; and that is many museums; TAKE ANOTHER LOOK ! You are missing out on an important part of RR HISTORY !!!

Our group is working toward a signal "garden" similar to the one in Union IL, but on a much smaller scope.
Author:  Bob Milhaupt steamy [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Griswold Grade Crossing Signal Lights
Bob H,

Yes, Griswold lights and brackets are of a special design, so it makes a great deal of sense to try to with a Griswold banner signal restoration project.

In 2020, the Greenfield Village Railroad signaling team restored and placed in-service a Griswold rotating banner-style signal with Griswold lights and Griswold bell, but modern crossbucks. The signaling engineer who led the project noted that Griswold did some goofy things with the design of their lights and light brackets - things which made it a somewhat challenging operational restoration project. He wished that the Griswold light and bracket design was more like a modern design, as it would have been more easily re-assembled.

I do not know whether the lenses used were authentic Griswold lenses.

Some day that Griswold will get "upgraded" to more-historical crossbucks with cat's eye reflectors...

Regards,
Bob Milhaupt
Author:  Les Beckman [ Tue Feb 15, 2022 12:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Griswold Grade Crossing Signal Lights
Bob -

Looked for a video or photograph on the internet of the restored operational Griswold at the Greenfield Village Railroad, but had no luck.

Les
Author:  BNSFWarren no2 [ Tue Feb 15, 2022 9:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Griswold Grade Crossing Signal Lights
When I was a kid, it was fun to walk by a facility they had in Minneapolis. There was an always-open garage door with a crossing signal there.
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