Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

One thing that has interested me is how some theme parks with their own little railroads actually use real railroad crossing signals of some sort! Here are the parks I know that have them...

Storyland in New Hampshire: This theme park is FULL of crossings. There are at least two basic-style ones with 10" flashing incandescent lights (I think) and a mechanical bell that rings slowly. Another crossing near a nautical-themed area has a crossbuck mounted on a small lighthouse that lights up when a train crosses, and I think it makes a foghorn noise too. Near the Bamboo Chutes (a water log ride of sorts), there is a Chinese-style railroad crossing with a fancy frame, no crossbucks, red flashing lights, a gonging sound and an animatronic face that explains the basic crossing safety rules or something like that as the train goes by (I remember it saying that "you may cross as soon as we stop our gonging.") Not too far from it is another Chinese-style railroad crossing, but it only has a green crossbuck with "RAILROAD CROSSING" in a yellow Asian-style font, unusual small red lights, and a vibrating bell (like a school or fire alarm bell) that rings in a Fast March Time (120 bpm-style). VERY interesting stuff.

Edaville Railroad Museum, MA: Two of the crossings can be found here:
http://www.rxrsignals.net/Massachusetts ... /Edaville/
I also remember a third crossing I saw on a train ride I went on there; it was a basic old-looking gated mast signal, maybe from the '60s or '70s (it had that old-style reflective crossbuck), and no bell. I also remember the gated signals in the front of the park used to have NO crossbucks (this was back in around 1998-1999 when I went there), but I imagine they added them for safety reasons (great idea, IMO.)

Walt Disney World: Yes, even the big-daddy of all theme parks has a few railroad crossings too! In the Animal Kingdom on the Wild Life Express train ride, there are a few crossings with gated mast signals using 12" incandescent lights and what sounds like WCH mechanical bells. I also remember some kind of railroad crossing in the Magic Kingdom for the WDW railroad, but all it had was incandescent lights and a mechanical bell, no crossbuck or anything else.

Any comments?

I've seen 'em in lots of places. Most of them have been those "STOP ON RED SIGNAL" signals you usually see in amusement parks. However Hershey Park actually has sgnals w/ gates. They're not actual crossing signals, but it's the first place where I've seen gates within amusement parks.

There may be some in Phoenix, but I haven't been down there to check. I think some of the other Arizona regulars could make it there quicker than I could.

In Poway, California near San Diego, Old Poway Park has a miniature train ride protected by "real" crossing signals. Google Street View has some very good images as seen below:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 04,,0,8.87

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... .81,,0,4.7

Actually, most of the equipment used appears to be authentic and restored. Below is a link to the railroad's website. The park itself is a very nice place to visit if in the area.

http://www.powaymidlandrr.org

Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha has old Magnetic Signal wigwags in operation at a couple pedestrian crossings. Although the crossing next to the depot simply has a pair of flashing light signals. Most crossings though are passive.

6 Flags over Texas has a couple of crossings on the 6 Flags Railroad,I think both have wig ways,they both have lights & gates.Libertyland that used to be in Memphis had 2 crossings,both with lights & gates.Little Rock Zoo has crossings with lights,but they don't work.

Cedar Point has some with gates lights and bells, the equipment is not used for actual Railroad use. however, Kings Island in Cincinnati has some crossings with Safetran stuff on it it had Safetran 12" x20"s lights, WCH Gate mechs, and Safetran type 3s. very weird for an amusment park train.

Silverwood up in Spokane WA has some very old crossbucks