Old fashioned western

[awesome andrea]

Hi I am in desperate need of a photo or illustration of an old style wooden traffic signal for the trains that ran in the wild west. My boss has described them as used to signal when the trains should stop and start...sort of like a traffic light. they come out at a 90 degree angle and are sometimes portrayed in old cartoons.

 I don't know anything about trains and would appreciate any help...i am having problems doing google image searches because i cant figure out the appropriate terminology to get the images im looking for.

 

[henry6]

Check books about trains and railroads in your favorite library....or at a book store or hobby shop.

[AgentKid]

What you are looking for are pictures of Semaphore Signals. Here are two pictures from recent threads.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37354122@N03/3519882862/in/set-72157617872246273/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37354122@N03/3519069721/in/set-72157617872246273/

Hope this helps.

 AgentKid

 

[awesome andrea]

thanks so much!!!

[Deggesty]

AgentKid

What you are looking for are pictures of Semaphore Signals. Here are two pictures from recent threads.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37354122@N03/3519882862/in/set-72157617872246273/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37354122@N03/3519069721/in/set-72157617872246273/

Hope this helps.

 AgentKid

 

Well, well. I knew that the SP used lower quadrant semaphore signals (and I have seen them), but I do not recall seeing any pictures of such on the UP. Live and learn. I have seen upper quadrant signals on the SFe and NP. (And, some people in Salt Lake City refer to all traffic lights (no arms at all) as "semaphores"--many years ago, they were semaphore signals)

Johnny

[West Coast S]

I might add that many of the early semaphore blades were constructed of wood. 

Dave