Randy,
I totally agree that the MR article on ball signals was too brief on details. Here's a few links to some online articles that I've found in the past:
Early Railway Signals
Trains and Technology: Bridges and Tunnels; Signals (Anthony J. Bianculli)
Tidal Information by Ball Signal
Not a comprehensive study on ball signals but at least a start in the right direction.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I suspect that when there was no tender and/or station operator to clear trains, if you came to the ball signal and it was not set, you could assume a previous train had not yet arrived and proceed at track speed or based on other orders. If the signal was set, you could assume the other train got there first and was no ahead of you, requiring restricted speed. Although how it all gets reset again is a different story - unless only a train coming back the other way could then reset it. Definitely could have used another page to this article explaining these details. One paragraph explaining the indications at Strong was not enough.
So who wants to write it? ALthough I bet it's already been done - maybe WAY back - if so maybe that story on how ball signals were used could be an online extra.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
tstagecheck out the Fall 2003 issue of Classic Trains called "Highball! Old-Time Signals in Vermont".
I was going to mention this article as well. The article has photographs of 6 or 8 ball signals, the associated track plan and what trackage rights are meant by the number of balls displayed.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Autobus Primewhat advantage does a manual, train crew-set signal provide over a dark junction governed by train order? I would imagine, for safety, that all crews would be required to approach a junction with such a signal at a very slow speed, and prepared to stop...
That's a good question, Autobus. I'm not entirely sure of the answer. It's possible that in some remote areas - the fact that manual labor was cheap in those days - that it was more cost effective for the RR to have someone man the crossing manually. Obviously, that depended primarily on how busy a given crossing(s) were at any given point of a 24-hour day.
I wish I could find the photo. I've seen a picture of a manual crossing gate at a junction where it was an either/or situation. If a train approached a crossing and the gate was down across that line: The locomotive engineer was required to stop the train, get out, manually move (pivot) the gate 90-degrees so that it now blocked the other line, climb back into the locomotive and continue on.
It was a very simple system. Whoever didn't have the gate blocking their line had the right-of-way. For obvious reasons, the approach to that junction would have been slow in order to stop the train in time.
Ahhhhh....That takes all the fun out of it, Jay! It is a nice very model though.
tstage Autobus PrimeIn that case, what advantage does the signal provide? Autobus, One advantage might be that a ball/light combination signal would have is a built in fail-safe. If two balls/two lights operating meant for you to proceed but only one light was lit, you would know that the other line would still correctly interpret the signal (because of the second ball being visible) and stop to allow you the right-of-way. Tom
Autobus PrimeIn that case, what advantage does the signal provide?
Autobus,
One advantage might be that a ball/light combination signal would have is a built in fail-safe. If two balls/two lights operating meant for you to proceed but only one light was lit, you would know that the other line would still correctly interpret the signal (because of the second ball being visible) and stop to allow you the right-of-way.
t:
That's definitely true, especially since the old-style lamps wouldn't be all that visible in daylight, but what I meant was: what advantage does a manual, train crew-set signal provide over a dark junction governed by train order? I would imagine, for safety, that all crews would be required to approach a junction with such a signal at a very slow speed, and prepared to stop...
dti406 MR can't come up with a new article/construction project. This signal was covered in the 1965 MR, 1980 RMC and 2004 MM! How about a little creativity instead of rehashing old articles?
MR can't come up with a new article/construction project. This signal was covered in the 1965 MR, 1980 RMC and 2004 MM!
How about a little creativity instead of rehashing old articles?
dti:
This hobby operates on a 20-year memory cycle, so everything old is new again. At least it was a fun project to read about!
I think they just asked Lou Sassi to write up a little something about his signal.
That said, a few things could have been added. If you look at the prototype photo, there's a pair of steel drums for the lanterns to hide in, at the base of the mast, and a pair of counterweights to balance the balls, so the signal doesn't drop the ball, you might say.
Some more specific use info would be good. I've always wondered what the rules were for using these. When there was no full-time tender, where did this signal's authority come from? I'm assuming permission was given by orders or radio, and then the crew set it as instructed, so the ball signal is just a distant "We are using the junction so please don't hit us" warning...something like the smashboard gates some roads used. Would all crews approach the signal at restricted speed, prepared to stop? In that case, what advantage does the signal provide?
As for pulleys, I think a pair of dress-snap pieces, back to back, might look acceptable.
rrinkerI thought someone here posted a how-to on making a ball signal - might have been Tom (tstage) actually. --Randy
Randy, you have a good memory. It was me.
Mike, I've scratch-built the following ball signals:
Simple design (based on Whitefield, NH signal)
Complex design (based on signals in VT)
I also had problems locating HO pulleys for my project. So, I ended up fabricating mine out of N-scale plastic wheels. They're passable for the "3-foot rule" but I'd like to come up with a more realistic design for the next ones.
And, although I never finished the step-by-step "how to" for them on my web site, I did create a diagram for the Complex ball signal:
Diagram for 2-ball/2-light Ball signal
Mike, please feel free to drop me an e-mail or PM and I'd be more than glad to send you a .pdf copy of the Word.doc diagram.
Also, if you are interested in ball signals, Mike, check out the Fall 2003 issue of Classic Trains called "Highball! Old-Time Signals in Vermont". It was a fascinating read with lotsa good information and history about ball signals throughout VT.
Hope that helps...
Jason
Modeling the Fort Worth & Denver of the early 1970's in N scale
Hey, just had a thought. Would RacShack or someplace workign with tiny belt drives have something that could be painted rust enough to work?
-Morgan
I thought someone here posted a how-to on making a ball signal - might have been Tom (tstage) actually.
dti406 MR can't come up with a new article/construction project. This signal was covered in the 1965 MR, 1980 RMC and 2004 MM! How about a little creativity instead of rehashing old articles? Rick
Rick
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Grant lline makes a 43" pulley. Is that close enough? Walthers Part # 300-5122
I just came back from a vacation up to New Hampshire last week and was up in the Whitefield area. Took several pictures of the last operating ball signal in New England there. When I got back to VA where I am stationed I opened my mail and noticed my new copy (August 2009) of MR. I noticed that they did a 2 page write up on how to make a Ball Signal and showed a picture of the ball signal in Whitefield NH on the old MEC / B&M mainline.
looking at the article, the call for 36" (scale inch) pulley wheels. I have been looking all through my Walthers catalog and can't find anything even close to these pulley wheels.
Does anyone know where one could find these things?
Mike