Robert Gift
former OL presenter
This vertical clear light on pole indicates crossing signals operating.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...QCpolp862YgOoXa3Q_NGw&cbp=12,352.41,,2,-13.12
As a 12-year-old visiting his grandparents in St. Petersburg, Florida, a few blocksouth of the road leading outo the famous St. Petersburg Pier I found a railroad track which headed easto a dock south of the Pier.
At a grade crossing, on.e of the signals I found an unlocked box or uncovered box which contained a wooden knob. (Maybe it was on the crossing relay cabinet.)
Suspecting what it did, I waited until there was no traffic and pulled the knob.
The crossing signals operated!
No bells.
From inside the silver painted cabinet I could hear the snapping of the flasherelay which made the (o)=(o) flash alternately.
Of each pair of signals at every grade crossing, ONE signal had a vertical pipextending up on which a clear glass dome containing a clear incandescent light bulb was mounted. It was connected to the same circuit as the left lamp bulbs.
Was that lighto lethe switchman know if he lefthe signals operating? The track wastraight so thengineer could easily see through the signalamp windows thathe signals were operating.
Does anyone know if there were more than one track here? I seem to remember two, perhaps one used for parking cars. Buthis GooglEarth aerial view does not show room for more than the single track.
Thank you.
Robert
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...QCpolp862YgOoXa3Q_NGw&cbp=12,352.41,,2,-13.12
As a 12-year-old visiting his grandparents in St. Petersburg, Florida, a few blocksouth of the road leading outo the famous St. Petersburg Pier I found a railroad track which headed easto a dock south of the Pier.
At a grade crossing, on.e of the signals I found an unlocked box or uncovered box which contained a wooden knob. (Maybe it was on the crossing relay cabinet.)
Suspecting what it did, I waited until there was no traffic and pulled the knob.
The crossing signals operated!
No bells.
From inside the silver painted cabinet I could hear the snapping of the flasherelay which made the (o)=(o) flash alternately.
Of each pair of signals at every grade crossing, ONE signal had a vertical pipextending up on which a clear glass dome containing a clear incandescent light bulb was mounted. It was connected to the same circuit as the left lamp bulbs.
Was that lighto lethe switchman know if he lefthe signals operating? The track wastraight so thengineer could easily see through the signalamp windows thathe signals were operating.
Does anyone know if there were more than one track here? I seem to remember two, perhaps one used for parking cars. Buthis GooglEarth aerial view does not show room for more than the single track.
Thank you.
Robert
Last edited by a moderator:
