Traffic Lights

[bigphilliestyle2000]

so i guess if your walking on a windy day, better watch out or one of those things will bust you upside the head!

[rrxingrick]

Great topic, Andrew! I'm crazy about traffic lights in addition to railroad crossing signals. I think it's just one small step from one to the other.

Then you'll probably hate me when I show you this...my pride and joy is my 3M HVS M-131. This took me a year and a half to find and actually has a bit of a neat story to go along with it. In late 2001 or early 2002, Oregon halted a long-standing tradition of using 3M signals as left turn signals at all intersections. This was likely due to their incompatibility with LEDs, their excessive weight, and relative complexity. They began dropping like flies all over the area, being replaced with standard left arrow signals or protective/permissive signals.

Concerned they might become obscure, I began searching the internet. eBay, other signal enthusiasts, even a shop in Missouri failed to net me what I so desperately sought. So I shot an e-mail to Washington County who in turn referred me to the Oregon Department of Transportation who finally sent me to the City of Portland's Transportation Bureau. There I was put into contact with the head of their signal operations, Keith. I told him what I was looking for and that its condition did not matter. He said he would keep his eyes peeled for one for me and quoted me $20.

Cut to June of 2003, a year and a half or so later, I had not heard back from Keith and figured like most government offices, he had blown me off. Before I called off the search entirely, I sent Keith a final e-mail asking if he'd found anything yet. Amazingly, I received a reply saying he had one put aside for me but had just gotten his hands on it. The new price was $25 but I didn't care. I wrote out a check and drove down to their offices in North Portland. I met Keith in his office and he took me out to the cage in the shops where the signal was placed face-down on its visors along with some other scattered signal parts. I had been expecting a weathered, beaten, abused signal in need of a few parts. Imagine my shock when I saw a brand-new 3M HVS M-131 sitting there, having never seen service. She needed absolutely no cosmetic work.

The first day I had her home, I discovered only one bulb worked and I accidentally shattered one of the removable frosted diffusers. 3M has been completely unhelpful when it comes to parts, not even bothering to answer my e-mails so I've resorted to salvaging bulbs and a replacement diffuser from 3M signals as they are retired from service.

My timing could not have been better; only two years after acquiring this signal, 3M announced its discontinuation. Now, parts for them are no longer available and I believe I have a future collectible in my possession; perhaps even along the lines of a Crouse-Hinds 4-way?

So here is my baby...in perfectly shiny, brand-new Hunter Green. The only thing I've done to her is put her up on the pole and add a sequencer so she cycles on her own. For the moment, I keep her in the storage room, only bringing her out for special occasions as my mom won't let me keep her in the house. As soon as I get my own place I might put her in a game room of sorts.

Have come across these with dialight L.E.D. inserts. Can't remember where though. I have a 3M as well.

[weatherdan882002]

Two major intersections in my city are undeegoing a huge upgrade: brand new signals (one intersection on wires, the other on poles) as well as brand new crosswalk signals (before there were just buttons with signs saying "push button, wait for green"). The majority of the signals are up, but they're not operational yet, last I checked. I'll keep you updated!

[fgossage]

Mike, you may know about these since you live in Arizona...

What do you guys think about these new HAWK signals that are being tested for pedestrian crossings?





They seem to have a VERY high driver compliance rate, when compared to other methods...and especially before signal installation.

[AndrewFields]

A couple of those have cropped up in Portland, one of which replaced a traditional traffic signal controlled crosswalk. I think they're pretty neat.

For those wondering how these work, here is a video of the one in Portland at 41st & Burnside St that also incorporates a bicycle signal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHihP2t5mdQ

[Smjh1979]

Yes, I do know about those. A few of them are around the Tucson, AZ area. I personally don't like them, as I'd rather have standard traffic lights.

[weatherdan882002]

Yeah, I prefer the regular traffic lights myself.

[fgossage]

For those of you who may be traffic signal buffs....

Do you know who manufactures these signals?





This is one of the most widely used signals out there.... if not the widely most used... and this is the only one out of the modern signal lines that I can't positively identify via internet searches...

[AndrewFields]

I believe those are an Econolite polycarbonate signal.

[fgossage]

I believe those are an Econolite polycarbonate signal.

FOUND IT! After doing some more digging after you called out the Econolite namebrand, I found two definite candidates. These are either GTE polycarbonate, or Eagle Mark IV signals, depending on how far the "bubbles" stick out in the back. The Eagle Mark IV bubbles don't stick out as far. Econolite does make a polycarbonate signal that looks JUST like those... except the "bubbles" are sculpted out to be more square looking.

GTE polycarbonate


Eagle Mark IV


Econolite polycarbonate


Thanks for the help! I never would've known where/how to look if you hadn't called out Econolite...