In this age of Darth Vader signals and shiny metal structures, it's nice to find a railroad that isn't afraid to stick with tradition, especially if tradition means thinking outside the box. It wasn't long ago that signal departments would customize their hardware based on local circumstances or what they had sitting around the shop, as opposed to whatever some subcontractor is influenced to buy.
Take the new interlocking at the west end of the new Wachusett MBTA station on the Guilford's Freight Main Line. The eastbound mast signal has been installed across the opposite main line track requiring a doll arm. If this isn't rare enough the Guilford decided to use a blue marker light instead of a blue reflector and even then they went with a GRS marker searchlight instead of something current.
If that wasn't odd enough look at the Westbound signal. Instead of a cantilever or signal bridge the Guilford went with a
three track bracket mast. I'm not sure I am aware of a similar structure in North America. The rightmost signal is an automatic for the opposite main, the center the adjacent main and the leftmost, the station track.
Of course it doesn't stop with signals as one can see with the second hand standard cab GE's. :-)
That is so cool. I would like to see the WB signal bridge lit in various signal aspects (colors). BTW, here in Cleveland, the NS Cleveland line still has some
ReplyDeleteConrail era GRS G signals in cab signal territory.
I think those signals on the Cleveland are US&S model TRs.
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