Seems a red light /green light signal might be easier for the general public. Interesting catch.
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It would seem to make more sense that the lights should turn ON when a train was approaching instead of turning OFF. I've never seen crossing lights like this before.
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Jeff - I think that's a fail safe. Always be careful if the lights are out (on purpose or in case of power outage).
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This type of crossing signal was big on rural crossings on the Monon back in he day.
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| Posted by on September 9, 2013 | |
Yes, it is set up that way as a fail-safe. I've seen it with one of the lights out, but with no train coming. Notice it makes the distinction of a westbound and eastbound track. Going back to the steam era, this main was converted from double track with ABS (automatic block signals) to reverse-signaled CTC. A train can come in either direction on either track. At least it's on a tangent, so only a total idiot would pull into the path of a train---no matter which way it was running. This is indeed a anachronism from the older days of railroad safety devices.
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@ Ralph Wettle. Yes Ralph, i remember seeing one of those on the Monon (L&N by then) in the late 70's. There was a similar device on the Ex Wabash just east of Willowcreek Junction (PC,NYC[MC], B&O, Wabash) on Portage Avenue in Portage IN until the line was removed in about 1982-83. That device had a constant green light. When out the sign said "STOP"! Luckily, i have a photo of it somewhere, taken in about 1973.
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