Railroad Mechanically operated signals

[Anonymous]

I am looking for information on the old style signalling where semaphore signals were worke by a lever using rods or wires to clearthem. I have plenty of info on signalling for both power semaphores and light signals.

I am reasonably well versed in South African and Briths railway signalling but wi***o apply US type signals to my HO layout instead of the SAR type.

Many thanks
Chris
Melbourne Australia

[arbfbe]

Some semaphore signals are still in use by Montana Rail Link. There is a chain much like a heavy duty bicycle chain that runs inside the length of the mast to move the blade assembly. These signals operate automatically through relays.

Manual signals such as train order boards commonly had rods down the outside of the mast connected with a bell crank to other levers entering the inside of the operators' bay in the depot.

[dknelson]

To my knowledge the last mechanically (hand) operated semaphore signals in the USA are at Brighton Park in Illinois. The operator is in a little shed near the diamond. This was written up in Trains in its Chicago railfanning issue a couple years ago and is featured in a book on Signals the exact name of which escapes me but it is a recent book
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Thank you to both respondents.
I have found some information on the Wisconson signals from The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers. The information related to the difficulties in making the signal go to Stop when power or mechanism failed. Are these the ones that montana rail link uses?
The Semephores were three position but with the motor at the base of the mast for easy maintenance.
With rehrad to the Illinos installation I will search the archive of Trains magazine.
My modelling dilemma is that 2 position signals are easy to model with mechanical linkages. I have some pictures of 2 position signalling in use on the SP around the 30s some of which is air operated and some of them mechanically. This does not give me any info regarding the positioning of the signals along the track.
Maybe I should stick to colour lights!
Chris

[arbfbe]

Yes, these are the semaphores MRL is still using. GRS or General Railway Signals is the manufacturer. They have the failsafe mode where the arm drops to the stop position when the power is interrupted. The signals operate on battery power back up as well as commercial power. These are lower quadrant signals where the blade falls to the stop position as opposed to the upper quadrant signals where the arm had to be raised to the stop position. The upper quadrant style was used on the Hariman lines and others.

[ndbprr]

Last one of those I saw was on the Reading Newtown Branch at the Lorimor Park stop. IT was a flag stop and the semaphore was used to indicate a passenger wanted to be picked up. The Conductor would reset the semaphore to clear. We kids must have stopped nearly every train on the branch! That was fifty years ago. It surprised me just how much strength was required to raise and lower the semaphore.