I think this is the last ball signal still in service in its original place in the U.S., at Whitefield, NH:http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2005080820550912214.jpg&bydate%3A50

A more recent photo...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtlwestrailfan/7997360600/in/pool-425158@N25

O -

Are these two lines out-of-service/abandoned?

Les

Yes, that is the obvious next question, however I don't know the answer.

According to this thread, the tracks (possibly state-owned?) are used for occasional moves to Conway Scenic.
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=126&t=8454&start=0

Remind me how that works. Is there just one mast & ball? Hi-ball means clear for one track but stop for the other? What would the procedure be? If it's not in your favor then stop, make sure nothing is coming, and reset it your way and just leave it that way?

Steve

The opening post link shows 2 probably interlocked balls, one for each route. In the more recent photo, the left hand ball is missing. The right hand ball is low in both photos.

Back in 1996, I remember seeing this type of set up on the Ohio Central's intersection with the W&LE I believe. I also seem to remember that one of the balls was red in color.

I don't know if that signal is still in use.

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

The signal you are thinking of on the former Ohio Central is at Justus, OH, near Brewster, where the now G&W crosses the R J Corman line from Warwick Jct. to Dover, OH, part of the former CL&W sub of the B&O. The signal there is not a ball signal, it's a tilting arm on a pole that indicates which line has the right of way. See attached photo of 1293 preparing to cross the diamond in Sept. of '08.

I have not seen Whitefield Junction since about 1975, but as I recall it looked a lot different then. There were two balls on the same rope so only one could be up at a time. I think the balls were painted white. The track with the "high ball" had the right-of-way. The other ball was lowered into a can attached to the pole so it was out of sight. There was also room in the can for a lantern, which was hooked on to the bottom of the balls at night. I think the train crews stopped and changed the ball if they wanted to cross and the high ball was not on their side. The system was fail safe in that if the rope broke, both balls would fall and then there was no proceed indication.

Yes, these tracks are out of service, or at least have not been used in several years. Both lines, and the ball signal, are now owned by the state of New Hampshire. The line crossing to the left is the Maine Central Mountain Division, and goes from there on to St. Johnsbury, VT. The line on the right is ex-B&M and deadends in the small yard on the otherside of the trees. Both lines are now operated by the New Hampshire Northern and are used for railcar storage.
Last year, Conway Scenics 0-6-0 #7470 made it to within a couple miles from here, so it's possible that the old ball signal could signal a high ball to steam once again, if the powers that be planned it out. Whitefield depot is just out of view across the road.

Brian Hebert

From the B&M timetable #53 of 1951
"One ball or one red light will allow trains on the Boston and Maine Railroad to pass over the Maine Central track. Two balls or two red lights will allow trains on the Maine Central Railroad to pass over the Boston and Maine track. All trains and engines will stop 500 feet from the Maine Central track".

Here are some picture I took of the signal back in 2005. I hope I have got size right. There was alot of things in that area at the time even a snow plough.

If someone's bringing this one back from the dead, there's another "ball signal" preserved (but not in use) adjacent to the NS former PRR/NYP&N line in Delmar, Delaware/Maryland, on the Delaware side of the border near a caboose display:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Delmar,+ ... 6,,0,-5.51