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The Hall "banjo" disc crossing signal was one of the earliest forms of an automatic visual warning device to be used at railroad crossings. To understand these signals, it must be noted that the disc signal itself dates back to 1871, when it was designed as a wayside signal. 3 discs, one green, one yellow, and one red, were housed in a wooden frame. The signal aspect would be whatever color disc dropped into view. For a colored photo of one in service, click here.

 

Eventually the disc wayside signal would be phased out in the 1910s and 1920s, but found new use in the form of a railroad crossing signal. First introduced in 1910, the Hall disc crossing signal consisted of a red disc, a red light for use at night, and an automatic bell.

 

When no trains were nearby, the disc would be raised out of view. However, when a train entered the crossing circuit, the red disc would drop into view, the bell would start clanging, and a red light would appear (this was important, since the disc could not be easily seen at night or in inclement weather).

 

Early Hall disc crossing signals used a self contained bell. Later models used standard 12 inch gong crossing bells. It was not uncommon to see bells from various manufacturers at the same crossing.

 

The Hall disc crossing signal was produced until the mid 1920s, but was rendered obsolete as soon as the first wig wag hit the market. Gradually they would disappear from the few roads that used them, mainly the Illinois Central and Lehigh Valley. While several Hall disc wayside signals exist in private collections today, no original Hall disc crossing signals are known to survive, not even in collections.

For a high quality photo of a wayside signal version of the Hall disc signal at the Monticello Railroad Museum, click here.