There is a lot more to a good railway museum than just locomotives and cars. Julie Johnson has developed a signal system at the Illinois Railway Museum that not only functions to safely control train movements, but demonstrates the proper use of various kinds of signals hardware from many different railways. Photos of all the signals are now available on the IRM web site at:
http://www.irm.org/gallery/SIGNALS

Peter -

Thanks for posting the Julie Johnson collection of photos of the IRM signals. A couple of questions:

1. I seem to recall some signals from an interurban railroad that date back to the 1920's or 30's. As I recall, they were at the stop on the streetcar loop next to the shed which contained some steam locomotives (sorry, I don't remember the shed number). I don't see these signals listed. Are they still there? And if so, are they operable?

2. The "Domino" signal seems to be a rare bird. Does IRM have anymore of those in the collection?

Thanks.

Les

See photo five for an example at IRM.

More on IRM signals. Les, you are probably talking about NACHOD signals on the car line trolley loop. That signal is still near Barn 9, but not in service right now. The entire one mile loop is undergoing a major project now with the goal of automated headway protection and signalling to be in place and operable for next summer. You have no idea how much wire that takes.

And do not forget the signal display along the north side of Barn 4. There we have perhaps 40 different heads installed on shorthened masts to be more visible and demonstrate details to walk by visitors (and with signage). Many of these are lighted, and sequentially display their different aspects on a timing circuit. A new custom made circuit board has been designed and a pilot model etched by one of our members. It was being cold weather tested this weekend, and looks promising. If so they will be produced in sufficient numbers to be applied for each signal, and you will see more animation in this exhibit next summer.

Bob Kutella

Bob -

We talked at HVRM about putting our signals against one of our buildings such as IRM has done alongside Barn 4. It is not a bad way to display them. In the end though, we decided to erect them alongside our museum property main line. HVRM's museum main line is short, but all of the signals are easily reached by a short walk on museum grounds. There are two advantages. First, they can be viewed and photographed in a railside setting. And second, they can be viewed and photographed as a passing train changes the aspects. Thus far we have installed:

1. Erie upper quadrant semaphore signal
2. Erie TTO upper quadrant double semaphore signal
3. Erie searchlight signal
4. PRR position light singnal
5. Monon (NYC) triangular color light signal
6. C&O two head signal
7. NKP three head signal
8. EJ&E searchlight signal
9. GTW triangular color light signal
10. B&O position light signal
11. NKP three head signal

We also have an IC lower quadrant semaphore train order board signal at our depot. There are also two wig-wags; one Erie and one CMStP&P.

All of the above are operational.

Scheduled to go up next is an Erie double searchlight signal.

We also have a five head 39' tall NKP mast signal that has all the heads operational but is not part of the track circuit but will eventually be controlled from a box next to our depot and across from this signal where visitors will be able to change the various heads.

We have a record of where nearly all of these signals originally came from but I have omitted that info from this note to try to keep it as brief as possible.

Historic railroad signals are just one more aspect of rail preservation. I applaud IRM's efforts to use them to help tell railroadings story to the general public.

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

I gotta agree. It takes some dedicated work to get their displays running the way that they're running. These ain't just plug-and-play light bulbs, bub!

They've done a FANTASTIC job. Keep up the good work!