I love semaphores more than the regular signals . Thanks for the knowledge brother and have a good day . I really want merch dude I cant wait till I can afford some .

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

It's a pleasure to make content for someone like you who can appreciate RR and history. No problem my bro, I will keep working on more cool shirt designs in the meantime! Hope all is well and thanks for the support.

@ArrowIIIRailfan

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 Thank you dude I hope all is well for you as well

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

@@ArrowIIIRailfan All good thanks, can't complain.

Most informative! Most Atlantic Coastline Stations had semaphores on them. I saw evidences of these at Wauchula, Florida, Ft. Meade, Florida, and the old Sebring, Florida( now long gone) Stations.. I saw Photographs of it of the Avon Park, Florida Station( now The Avon Park Community Center). At one time,I seem to remember hearing of a grade signal near Kathleen, Florida.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

You're right on the money, John. There was also one in Palmdale, FL (up until just a few years ago)! Sometimes I think I was born too late. I would've loved to have been born during the golden age of railroading! Hope all is well and thanks as always for the views and comments.

@johne.porter1298

3 жыл бұрын

Somehow I feel that I was born the same way. Palmdale was part of the Lake Alfred/Haines City Line you started exploring, as was the sugar cane interested and spurs.

Thanks for sharing this interesting info from the 1926 ACL rulebook, Roli! You can also see that the ends of the blades and the matching stripes are different shapes depending on the type of signal (usually absolute=square, home automatic block=pointed, distant=fishtail). The color of the blade could also have a meaning. My impression is that each railroad had its own customized set of signal indications, and there wasn't much standarization. And as you noted, it looks like route signalling wasn't very developed yet either, at least on the ACL.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Those are very interesting points you bring up there my friend. Good stuff! I agree, route signaling in 1926 wasn't what it is today. Thanks as always for the views and comments, Andrew. Hope all is well.

There's one semaphore with three flags called the chicken foot. It means watch for Babalawo's in the next block.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

LOL you almost made me spit out my Sprite! That is beautiful! I will surely work on something like that for a Tshirt design. Thanks again my friend. Hope all is well.

These are all over the UK still. Even on mainlines in 2021. I was just there in 2020 and they still use many semaphores there! Love it

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, can I get your autograph Tim? I don't think l know anyone that has been across the pond! Good stuff and keep up the good work.

Good stuff, if I had to guess there's a mechanism on the siding signal that raises it and lowers it behind the "shield" that's in the drawing, like on the semaphore signals.. And thanks for including Leslie Nielsen! " I am serious. And don't call me Shirley" is still one one the greatest lines EVER!

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Mike, just when l thought you couldn't get any cooler, l find out you're a huge Leslie Nielsen fan! Yes, that Airplane quote is one of the best ever. His first ever movie I watched was the original Naked Gun where he goes undercover as a baseball umpire to search all the players! The man is a legend. And you are correct about the signal apparatus, I just didn't want to make the video too long or boring. Hope all is well!

@jovetj

2 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 Leslie Nielsen is a legend. RIP.

@railrol82

2 жыл бұрын

@@jovetj Truer words have never been spoken!

Wow that's cool. I already knew how to read modern day signals but not these! Thanks!!

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

That makes 2 of us my friend. Always a pleasure to read your comments. Thanks as always for the views and comments!

The semaphores are just like the signals of today as far as what they mean. Very informative video,

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

You're right on the money, RI! Thanks for the kind words and hope you have a great weekend!

Great video! Love the old school railroading lesson. Going to order shirts after I return from vacation! Stay safe my friend!

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Good afternoon, John! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Sounds like a plan. Have a great vacation!

The 'TAKE SIDING' disc was mounted on a semaphore motor mechanism and lived behind the enclosure below it when not needed. When needed, it rotated upward and out of its hidey hole. Also, at 5:00, the dwarf aspect is purple. Purple was actually used interchangeably with red to indicate 'STOP' in the early 20th century. Eventually, someone realized that purple is really a lousy signal color since the Human eye is very insensitive to it. A kerosene flame viewed through dark purple glass is damn near invisible.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

You bring up a very interesting point, Frank. I can see how purple would be a lousy color for a signal. I appreciate the info. Thanks as always for the views and comments!

Semaphores lasted well into the late 1980s in Wisconsin on the C&NW. There was a location along Hwy 141 now I43 between Port Washington and Mequon straight as an arrow where on a clear night you could see 5 in a row. Nothing more fun than catching up to a train or anticipating one coming at you. Someday I'm going to go back to Wiscona where 3 lines came together and even though it was torn down almost 50 years ago I believe there are still pipes present for the interlocking signals. Ah the memories

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

WOW, 5 semaphores in a row at night! I'd love to see that. I don't think there's a place in the US where that can happen though. I like the way you think my friend. Thanks as always for the views and comments, Paul!

Hi Roly, interesting video. Until a few years ago UP (SP) used semaphores between El Paso and Alamogordo NM. Gone now replaced by the round signal with light in the middle. Thanks for posting. Checks in the Mail.

A great lesson on reading semaphore! It's sort of like reading a traffic signal but a little different. 😀

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Yes sir! Thanks as always for the views and comments, Kevin.

In the past since I love trains and railroads I did some research about those legendary rail signals are very unique!

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Yes sir, I think we were born too late, David. We should've been born during the golden age of railroading! Hope all is well my friend.

@SuperDave30

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 facts!

Good Morning Roly!! Thank you for the informative lesson!

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Good morning to you sir, my pleasure and I'm glad you liked it!

Thanks for sharing this important information with us and have a great day sir

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

My pleasure, Mike! I'm glad you liked it. Always a pleasure to read your comments. Hope all is well!

Nice merch! Can't wait for that Voodoo Chicken to drop. Epic video. Im always learning something from your channel man. Old school is the best way.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

My main man, Eric! Yes sir, that voodoo chicken is going to change the world! Someone suggested a signal that shows when there is santeria ahead on tracks, I'm going to the lab to work on it! Hope all is well my friend. Thanks as always!

I love me some railroad history. Semaphore signals are cool.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

If you love RR history, you've come to the right place! Hope all is well, Douglas. Thanks as always!

I didn't know you still had the rule book from when you were a conductor. I'd like to get my hands on one

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Negative my friend, this is a rule book from 1926. Long before I was even born!

This is a really well done video on a fascinating topic; The shirt is rad too!

That was interesting, thank you for sharing that with us. Nice find on that rule book

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

I'm flattered you liked it, Rich. Always a pleasure to read your comments. Hope all is well!

Awesome informational video!

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I appreciate that!

First video of the evening! If they were like the L&N there were lots of sidings and such. Back in the day there were needs for that sidings everywhere. There's this place close by where there was a siding going to an old decommissioned AFB. You can see where the railroad line was but hey you're the freaking Railroad Archeologist! It is sad to see these methods of moving materials disappear but if you think about it we've just gotten more efficient in our methods of transport. Great video, it reminds me of this book quest I went on a few years back. I had this image from a book I read as a child. Believe it or not I found the book I was looking for. A lot of signals looked familiar.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

You had this image from a book as a child and you finally found it, wow! How did you go about doing so? Yes, a lot of signals look familiar. That is why as a conductor, one has to logically and deductively look at it and know what each aspect represents. Hope all is well, Mike. Thanks as always!

👍🚂 Cool history lesson. I’m glad you were able to get a hold of that rule book. It is interesting how things were back in the day.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

I hear there are some of these still active in California and the SW... True or False? Hope all is well my friend.

@dp2475

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 Personally I have not seen any in action. However if I would travel I could possibly run into some.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

@@dp2475 Gotcha!

Nice shirt!Your Merch is looking pretty good!

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you like it, Metra. Thanks as always for the views and comments

Very informative video.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks as always for the views and comments, Celio

Cool video 👌 thank you

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks as always for the views and comments, Steve. Glad you liked it!

Really cool history lesson my friend. I have yet to see any semaphores in Florida. Maybe someone will tell us where to find a working one in the comments. Great historical trackumentary my brother! Cheers, Danny

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Funny you should mention that Danny, the only Semaphore I remember seeing in FL was located in Miami, next to the Jai Alai and was even vaguely seen in an episode of Miami Vice. Here's my video, if you're interested: kzread.info/dash/bejne/lZp3w62YpZfenqg.html

That awesome railrol I was born in 1995 I used to live in Mexico and I seen these types of signals in there there were awesome and plus I seen the old steam engines run in there

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

How interesting! So in Mexico there are still steam locomotives and semaphores in action as we speak?

@Texasdude987

3 жыл бұрын

When I went back over there for vacation the tracks are abandoned but the signals there there and there some in the museums In there

You took it back!

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Like a recliner!

great video

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks as always for the support, Brian

I always wondered what these were called, now I know and what the functionally of them are.. Thanks! =)

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the video informative my good man! Hope you have a great weekend!

There used to be a semaphore in Clare Michigan when I was a little kid at the Dimond between the Ann Arbor Railroad and Chessie System. There was also a crossing gate type arm that they would swing manually to block the line that was supposed to stop. The gate is still there but the semaphore is long gone. I'd love to know what became of it. I hope it's in someone collection and not a new Chevrolet. In April I saw some semaphores still in service in New Mexico. Speaking of old signals I used to watch trains as a kid along the Detroit & Mackinac Railroad that still used a wig wag at the crossing. I do believe that has been preserved somewhere.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Wow KC, you had an awesome childhood. You saw a semaphore and wig wag crossing! In my 39 years, I've yet to see a wig wag. Do you know where exactly it is. I only know of 1 in the USA, in California. Thanks as always for the views and comments!

@kc8rbk73

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 The active semaphores are along I25 in New Mexico. I saw them in April and photographed them. The wig wag used to be around Alger, MI but I believe it's preserved at the Henry Ford Museum but I'd have to research it more. I know it hasn't been in service for 20 years or so now.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

@@kc8rbk73 Well at least I'm glad to hear the semaphores are still active in NM!

I remember seeing these signals back in the 60's and early 70's. The ones I remember seeing them on the Northern Pacific main line. They were usually one on each side of the track facing opposite direction. We always knew when a train was ahead that we could catch up to or one approaching. Very few left. The only one I know of in Florida is at the Gulf Coast RR in Parish.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Northern Pacific main line? I thought you grew up in the Palmetto, FL area? There was one in Miami up until the 1990s in front of the Miami Jai Alai. When Tri Rail bought the CSX line, it got the ax. Hope all is well and thanks as always, Tommy!

@csxtommy6562

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 Grew up in Minneapolis

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

@@csxtommy6562 Ah ok, that explains it!

Amazing R i love this where Union Station is in St Louis Missouri there was a cantilevers of the old Semaphore's it was awesome and the signal Bridge is still there. Thanks again Mijo :-) BTW they were active up to late 1970's

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

That's unfortunate they're gone, Mijo. Sorry to hear that. Thanks as always for the views and comments, E. Hope all is well.

Real interesting sure a lot to know for the operating crews

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Yes sir. To become a conductor, you have to get 100% on the signal portion of the test! Thanks as always for the views and comments, Alfonse.

It looks like the sign for the "take siding" indicator can move and if a train was staying on the mainline it would be hidden behind that D shaped piece on the signal mast.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Ah yes, I see what you mean. I like your logic. Thanks as always for the views and comments, K!

A few corrections for you, Roly... 4:14 I don't think those lights are flashing. Flashing signals weren't really a thing in this era. I think the lines are simply to emphasize where to look on the graphic for the colored night aspect. Also notice that the Train Orders signals have four roundels. 5:25 That's purple. Purple was common back in the day on dwarf signals instead of Red to make them easier to distinguish from other background lights near the ground. 8:45 The "diverging" speed is just called Restricted speed. That would be the same as Slow speed today. The Slow speed would be what we call Restricting today!

@railrol82

2 жыл бұрын

I respectfully disagree with you on the last one. As I learned it in FEC, diverging always refers to a siding or spur. Thanks as always for the views and comments!

@jovetj

2 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 It's the terminology that was different 100 years ago. It evolved to what is in common use today over many years.

@railrol82

2 жыл бұрын

@@jovetj Yeah, just like any language. I see your point.

Érdekes videó lett!😀👍

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Köszönöm, mint mindig a nézeteket és észrevételeket

@ferenctakacs3138

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 😀👍

I know how the signal in the city I lived in work, but I don’t get how like a signal that has 2 lights in front like at the top and one at bottom. They tend to do that with 2 tracks zone too, I wonder how they work. I always hope a red signal is at the middle track, since that’s always a sign of a freight coming. That’s how the UP Harvard subdivision work for us. Nice teaching!

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

When I worked for FEC, they had their own set of signals which were different from CSX and UP. We had to memorize and learn them all and get 100% on that part of the test. Thanks as always for the views and comments!

These semaphores and rules predate CTC, so everyone was running on train orders they'd pick up along the way. Those orders would tell them when and where to take siding rather than the signal giving the additional route information.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Ahh so that's how that worked! Gotcha. Thanks as always for the views and comments!

@sharkheadism

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 I'd imagine that the take siding indicator was relatively rare and reserved for use in specific, somewhat unusual circumstances. In other words, I don't think there would be take siding indicators at each siding, because the crews already had their authority from the dispatcher and knew what to do. Just a hunch, though.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

@@sharkheadism Yeah, I see your point. Also, I don't think there were many industry spurs in 1926. Probably mostly passenger service.

Very interesting video Rol. Pretty cool info. My only concern is there is no signal to warn of track voodoo. 😒 🙄 🤣🤣

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

LOL You bring up an interesting point! Perhaps that is my calling in life, to invent one of those. Thanks as always for the views and comments, Dennis

Heh, we've still got a few of these here in the UK and still in use.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, here they are pretty much extinct. Are the ones in the UK still functional? Hope all is well, CD.

@chaosdemonwolf1

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 Indeed they are and all is well mate. Hope it's all good with you also. Cheers.

I like learning about train history back in the olden days posting on facebook RailRol82

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much, Terry! I appreciate you sharing my video very much. Thanks as always for the views and comments my friend.

Lights are not flashing. The short lines surrounding the bulb just shows that the bulb is illuminated.

What's the semaphore shirt address?

@railrol82

2 жыл бұрын

E-mail me at ROL82@aol.com Thank you!

Nice Video 🚂🚂🇮🇳🚂🚂

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks as always for the views and comments, Taslim

Does the “S” raise up from behind a plate?

@railrol82

2 жыл бұрын

That is a great question. I'm wondering the same thing myself! Happy New Years, Steven. Thanks as always for the views and comments!

I don’t think those signals are still in use. The signal nowadays are on top of each each other and I haven’t seen any signal like that

@csxtrainfan319

3 жыл бұрын

I think you find those signals on abandoned railroads nowadays

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, they are pretty much extinct. I read about one still in action in Raton Pass, AZ. Hopefully it is still there when l go. Hope all is well!

film a video last week with a old semaphore in it still stands by the fright depot on the main line of csx did not point it out in the video of the train

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Wow so you know where there is a semaphore that still is in use? If so, you have to let me know where!

@walterlangston7866

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 its no longer in use just was never taking down its in Thurmond west virginia was there filming trains with jaw tooth last week

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

@@walterlangston7866 Gotcha!

You need ant shirt that says railroad junkies with a picture of a rusty steam locomotive

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

That's a great idea my friend. Thanks for the suggestion. Hope all is well!

Original signals are the best

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Truer words have never been spoken! Thanks as always for the support, Georgette!

Are they still in use anywhere? They are so cool.

@csxtommy6562

3 жыл бұрын

Most left have been replaced by block signals. CSX on our S line have replaced the old with the new bright LED lights.

@DouglasP201

3 жыл бұрын

Well, there is one still standing, but not in use, right next to the NS main, at the old COfG depot in Montezuma Ga.

@kenshin891

3 жыл бұрын

In the US, probably not. I know the UK and Germany still have some semaphore signalled lines. There was the Raton Pass in AZ but iirc they took the semaphores down after 2015. Around me (Cleveland), Berea yard used to have a couple semaphores in service until 03-05. Part of the LTV/ArcelorMittal/Cleveland Cliffs mill had a tilting target (special semaphore for diamonds). They knocked down that part of the mill in the mid-late 00s and turned it into Steelyard Commons. Unfortunately the signal wasn't part of the preserved steel mill/historical elements.

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Kenshin, you just broke my heart. In my to do list, I always had the Raton Pass in AZ to film with the semaphores. Do you know if there are any in the US still left, even if they're not functioning?

@nickastridandtoothlessthen5494

3 жыл бұрын

@@railrol82 This may help: Semaphore signals have been almost completely replaced by light signals in North America, but they contain several important design elements. The overwhelming majority of semaphore type signals used in North America, and the only type surviving in service as of 2009 are of the three-position, upper quadrant variety. This is from Wikipedia

Some of these are located in switches

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, such is the case with modern signals too. Thanks as always for the views and comments, SD!

I would love to email a art work

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

Go for it, ROL82@AOL.COM

The archeologist education

@railrol82

3 жыл бұрын

The Costanza has spoken!!!