Lionel manufactured a banjo signal. Are there any real ones left? If so, where?

Are you looking for Banjo block signals or Banjo Automatic Crossing Protection signals? If it's block signals,I don't think there's any left in service, but the B&O Museum in Baltimore has one on display. The largest user of the Banjo block signal I know of was the Reading Company, and the Atlantic City Railroad here in South Jersey was
entirely signalled with them until the advent of the searchlight signal.
There was quite a few Banjo crossing protection siganals on the Jersey Central here also, but they're all gone now.

I guess I need some help. Being a 4th generation Californian, I'm missing out on a lot of eastern railorading and their unique tools and equipment.

Can someone describe a Banjo Signal or link me to a image?

Greg

I'd heard the term before and thought they were the same as wig-wags, but a quick Google search led me to this page:

http://gsee.sdf-us.org/signals/photos/html/Banjo/

The thumbnail photos didn't show up on my computer, but clicking on the photo name brought them up just fine.

Also, here's a nice photo with some banjos and semaphores on a signal bridge.

http://railroad-signaling.com/semaphores/29.html

Go to Dans Wig Wag site. Has all kinds of neat stuff about Banjo/Wigwag signals.

http://www.trainweb.org/dansrailpix/WIG_WAG_PAGE1c.htm

There are operating banjo signals in service on the Niles Canyon Railway between Niles and Sunol, California. NC Rwy is owned and operated by the Pacific Locomotive Association.

I believe that the banjo signal pictured is one located at Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, California. We are not sure where the signal had been used or, other than that, now it came to be in southern California. But we obtained it years ago; maybe about 25 years ago or more.

For a long time we have throught it is one of a very few of such signals existing. Interesting to hear that B&O has one of these.