Might be the last of the breed. Ball signals go way back, Civil War times. They are at the base of the old tern "highball", meaning a clear track, press on. They began to be replaced with semaphones and other modern signals many of which used electric lamps sometime around the turn of the last century. This one, in remote Whitefield NH is still standing. The track it protects has not seen a train in a long time. Ten years ago there were a few tired cars parked in Whitefield but they have been gone for years.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
David,
Even though they weren't used on my prototype railroad - I love ball signals! There's a small railroad museum outside Ligonier, PA that procured the 5-ball signal from Bellows Falls, VT. That was a real treat to see. I'm also quite partial to wigwags.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Besttrains. com makes a kit with 2 of these Whitefield NH Ball signals. and a kit with one signal athe shanty and a section shed.
Ron High
River Leaf Models also makes a 2-ball ball signal like the one at Whitefield. Several years back a made a prototype of that signal using Rix line poles, A-Line chains, N-scale plastic wheelsets, and scratch-built ball "discs" made from 1/4" OD cut dowels: