I think I've posted a pic or three here in the past of my collection, but there has been some changes. Also made a new video. So if signals are your thrill give it a click.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkrqXNjF4YA

The real reason for posting the video is to see who else is out there in the signal collecting world. I've spoken with several but always like to share stories with others. Drop me a note if you're interested in chatting and collect signals.

Jeff

Just a beautiful collection. From the types of signs, and knowing which roads used the design, I'd say you are in California, or somewhere out west, with weather conducive to preservation. I'd also surmise, you have an electrified fence, or a couple of pit bulls, running free. Beautiful.

Ha!
I have a 30ft 35 degree slope that I back up to so you'd have to get it over the fence and down the slope all while working with two Black Mouthed Curs (think Old Yeller, coondog) who are bit protective of their signals.

Thanks for the kind words.

Great collection, very impressive!I'd have another fence with land mines in it if I had that in my back yard!

M..man -

One of your dogs made an extremely brief appearance near the very end of the video. Looked real mean!

Great signal collection!

Les

LOL. They are about as lazy as lazy is until I say "squirrel."

Well, apparently they can catch them once in a while at least. Our Black Lab finally realized that chasing a squirrel was just futility and now when one shows up, she barely registers a sideward glance!

I especially envy your collection of lower quadrant semaphores. We have a number of different operable historic signals on our museum trackage but one thing we are missing is a lower quadrant semaphore. Perhaps someday, we'll get lucky and find one.

Les

Here's a shot of Illinois Railway Museum's very cool collection of signals.

Les, is there a particular model LQ you're in search of? Base of mast mech or top of mast, or who cares?

no prototypes but certainly working on model ones, just got some single light targets working in HO.

Most railfans/students of RR history tend to be locomotive/train oriented and the rest of the STUFF is completely forgotten. We fail to realize that there was more to the "behind the scenes" of rail operation than just trains running. Signals, signal maintainers and Tower operators fall into this category.
Now I admit that I spent most of my life reading about steam locomotives and the locomotive builder's; but for the last 24 years I have collected, read, and researched the history of American RR signaling. If you think that is boring you would be wrong, I learn something new or discover something I didn't know about it still.
Understanding the signals and operations of just ONE railroad will take years of study. Look at almost every RR museum in the USA and you will their signal collection outback on the SCRAP pile. There are some good exceptions, but even a very NOTED RR operation has it's collection in a heap; I won't say who. And yes, I did make them aware of it, they are still on the pile.

Kevin K

Most of those signals at IRM work! I believe it has been primarily an individual effort to get them wired up. In the past, on selected weekends, they've set up a computer back a ways from signal row and visitors are invited to click a mouse on a graphics of a particular signal and select what aspect should be displayed and the signal will change or move to that position.

That was before the powers that be decided that that was the best location of the North Shore Line and South Shore Line signs. I don't think that prevents the interactive display but makes it somewhat less convenient.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G1ZC5-fUC4

Steve

Margaritaman -

The only requirement would be that the LQ be all there (base, mast, semaphore). If parts missing from the mechanism, that would be okay as we can at least then try to secure them elsewhere, or replicate. Here is a simplified listing of what we currently have operational on our museum line:

1. Upper quadrant semaphore (Erie)
2. Double upper quadrant semaphore (Erie)
3. Pennsy position light signal
4. NYC triangular color position signal
5. Searchlight signal (Erie)
6. Searchlight signal (EJ&E)
7. GTW triangular color position signal
8. Triple head searchlight signal (Erie/C&O)
9. B&O color position signal
10. C&O double head color light signal
11. NKP triple head (color light and searchlight) signal

We also have some additional operational signals including a hand operated, lower quadrant semaphore train order board (IC), a wig-wag and a 29' five headed NKP signal mast that is not connected to track circuits. We have spots for additional signals on our museum line, which is why a LQ semaphore would be nice.

Les

Part of my train watching was in Waterloo, IN as a kid, a hotbed of high speed NYC traffic, which you could see signals, and nearby were 2 crossovers, and there was plenty of crossover traffic. The signals help tell you whats happening or what to expect. They give the railroad that sense of life when no train is present.

I don't think I have seen any hardcore book on signals themselves from a fan viewpoint, there is a handbook of signals I have, but I dont know of any book that goes out and focuses on the prototype signals and their various installations.
But putting my layout together I apply railroad logic to my processes to create the essential scene and have the signals operate correctly for the track situation, I'm working on a model yard throat, and trying to find signal details of the milwaukee road is difficult. You scan pictures here and there and scrounge looking at that odd signal just nearly out of sight of the picture of a screaming steamer the real subject.

I have a book from one of the signal makers which gives some good info about their signals and applications. Hitting train shows I keep watch for books like this and rare and luck when you come across them, some vendor happens to have something collected and there you go.

The only other good source is the railroad rule books themselves explaining their signal applications and indications. C&NW is very curious indeed.

I am always on the hunt for signal data.

dinwitty
I'm not an expert on the signals of the Milwaukee RR but I do know that they had 3 aspect upper quadrant semaphores (case was on the bottom), and they were made by Union Switch and Signal Co. I think the mechanisms were Style B upper quadrant or Style S.
They also had US&S color light signals that were Style R-2. For information you need a copy of a US&S catalog covering Semaphore signals and mechanisms; and one on color light signals. I would go to RR Signals.pix For some catalog scans.
Brian Soloman did a book on RR signals . Also, google Railway Signal and Communications which was a trade magazine years ago. If you look in the 1908 time frame and onward I am sure you will find signal information for the Milwaukee RR.

Kevin K