Just curious, if any other museums have significant signal displays? This is the one at IRM, which is having additional lights repaired and control circuits created.

Joe's page of IRM signal shots

> Just curious, if any other museums have
> significant signal displays? This is the one
> at IRM, which is having additional lights
> repaired and control circuits created.

Our museum has adopted a different tack. We are setting our signals along our short main line and will eventually have them operating. The blocks will be short, but our trains are short. Eventually photographers should be able to photograph a train going by and having a semaphore drop into red, or having a searchlight signal go from yellow to green (clear.) Thus far we have installed two Erie semaphores (including a double TTO semaphore), a NYC three light signal, Erie and EJ&E searchlight signals, a Pennsy yellow position light signal (with two heads) and a Nickel Plate Road three head signal. We also have an operational Illinois Central lower quadrant semaphore train order board set up at our depot building. And finally, we have a 39' tall NKP five head signal mast erected on the property that visitors will eventually be able to change signal aspects from a control box set up across the street at the depot building. The control box will explain what the various aspecnts each signal set meant to operations on the Nickel Plate. We currently are working on a C&O two head signal and a B&O position color light signal.

We realize that Illinois Railway Museum has other signals, besides those pictured, out on their main line controlling train movements. Ours will hopefully allow the public to better understnad the signal workings on the railroad in addition to being easily available for the forementioned
photography.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

> Just curious, if any other museums have
> significant signal displays? This is the one
> at IRM, which is having additional lights
> repaired and control circuits created.

At Orange Empire Railway Museum our signal department has started a public display. Within a landscaped area a number of crossing bells, wig-wags, and the like have been set up. These have signs telling about them and providing a button to allow the visitor to operate the signal. Also currently installed is a motor car indicator and a three lens signal that changes when the button is pushed. Currently work is underway is work to add a crossing gate and a semaphore signal.

Brian Norden

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is going the route of having an operating signal system on two segments of the line. We presently have a two block segment of Nachod (trolley contactor) signals in operation and are installing a two block section of track circuit signals which we hope to have operational by next year.


artschwartz@sprintmail.com

> Our museum has adopted a different tack. We
> are setting our signals along our short main
> line and will eventually have them
> operating.

Good idea, Les. IRM has what must be over six miles of working track with operating signals of many different types. But many of these locations are remote from where a visitor might access them, and eventually there arises a problem with training operating folks to recognize different aspects on a dozen or so different signal types from different properties and manufacturers.

Our side of the road display includes over 40 signals mounted and signed so far, many of them rare one of a kind types. Doug Oakes has been a moving force behind this for years, largely unheralded, and now some others are involved in the ongoing painting and newly installed lighting and operation. Most are mounted on shortened masts (except the dwarfs, of course) to be more accessable for photos, viewing, etc.

bob Kutella


68trolley@comcast.net

> At Orange Empire Railway Museum our signal
> department has started a public display.
> Within a landscaped area a number of
> crossing bells, wig-wags, and the like have
> been set up. These have signs telling about
> them and providing a button to allow the
> visitor to operate the signal.

Visitor activated signal operation would result in many more operating cycles than in normal railroad service. A member of our group is against setting up any operable signal display due to the worry of ongoing maintenance and equipment wear. How much maintenance problem has your signal display been?

shearerd@charter.net

> Visitor activated signal operation would
> result in many more operating cycles than in
> normal railroad service. A member of our
> group is against setting up any operable
> signal display due to the worry of ongoing
> maintenance and equipment wear. How much
> maintenance problem has your signal display
> been?

I'll have to ask the signal maintenance people about this.

You've got to realize that this "signal garden" was created at the initiative of our signal department to showcase the variety of grade crossing protection devices and track block signals that we have collected. After the initial installation they are in the process of expanding it.

Our Signal crew has its own website and within it a photo gallary including the "signal garden." Two ways of getting to it. One is through the main OERM site; under "Member Information" select "Signals Crew." The other is to go direct to it at:
http://gsee.sdf-us.org/signals/

Then select the photo gallery.

Brian Norden

Orange Empire Railway Museum

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum has an operating semaphore signal in its entrance area. The Museum is located on the lower level (basement) of one of the Balboa Park buildings and the stairway area nicely allows the cut-down semaphore to be displayed. It has a Plexiglas cover to the case and the mechanism. This allows the operation of the mecahnism to be observed by the visitor.

See its website and select "Principal Exhibits."

Brian Norden

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

> I'll have to ask the signal maintenance
> people about this.

> You've got to realize that this "signal
> garden" was created at the initiative
> of our signal department to showcase the
> variety of grade crossing protection devices
> and track block signals that we have
> collected. After the initial installation
> they are in the process of expanding it.

Yesterday I talked with our signal crew as they were working at expanding the display.

Regarding wear and tear to the signals, they recognize that this occurs. But for the public display they are willing to accept some of this. To limit the public (read kid) activation of the wig-wag and signals they are talking of placing delay timers to keeping them from being activated too often

I was told that the wear and tear concern is one reason why they are slow in completing the symaphore and crossing gate mast and arm. But, commenting about the construction of the mechanisms they feel that the signals will still be working when we are gone.

Brian Norden



Orange Empire Railway Museum