High ball and vanes

[John Busby]

Hi all
Ball and vane signals are the US railways
almost prehistoric signal systems have been
able to find vauge descriptions but no pictures or drawings
can any one help??
These are suited to my private narrow gauge railway and should be easy to make if i can find a decent picture or drawing.
regards John

[kstrong]

Ball signals were extensively used on the Sandy River & Rangely Lakes RR. They show up in photos somewhat frequently of that line, so I'd start looking there. Here's one I found via a Google image search:


photo from the collection of the Boothbay Railway Museum
http://www.wwfry.org/equipment/pics/sr&rl6.jpg
(the photo isn't displaying for some reason, so just click on the link)

You can see the ball signal in the background. it's basically a tall pole, like a telegraph pole, with a cross arm at the top onto which the upper pully is attached. (In this case, there are two signals, so two pullies) At the bottom is another set of pulleys for the bottom end of the rope. The ball is simply raised up or down, much like a flag.

Later,

K

[John Busby]

Hi Ken
Thats one covered any idea as to the diameter of the balls.
I figure a large bead painted red?? would do for them
Nothing on vane signals ??
regards John

[kstrong]

Try this site:

http://www.du.edu/~etuttle/rail/sigs.htm

It's got a list of many early styles of signals, including vane and ball signals. Sorry, I've no idea as to the diameter of the balls, but from photographs, I'd guess somewhere between 15" and 18".

Later,

K

[John Busby]

Hi Ken
Thanks that should it it for info
to start making them..
regards John