Signals on display at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 1:07 am
(These apply to the first video:)
Signal on the left: WRRS Autoflag wig-wag and an RRS (Railroad Supply Co., pre-WRRS) mechanical bell.
Signal on the right: US&S 9 inch lights with 160° angle lenses and US&S "STOP" lights.
The S&NA South Sub went dead for a little while after CSX 3099 came through, so I decided to stop by here for a little while and record these signals. My friend, FanFan61618, recorded these signals a few years ago and I uploaded the video to my channel, which can be seen here:
The bell doesn't sound as healthy as it used to, though. The 160° angle lenses in the US&S signal also stick-out quite a bit, and look almost like some LEDs that are being made. They are also 9 inches wide rather than the standard 8 inches, and the US&S light heads actually are of a slightly different design than what you'd normally find in use at a crossing with US&S 8 inch lights.
The L&N didn't use many wig-wags back in the day, but the few they did use had this unique "concentric circles" banner-design on them. This wig-wag used to be installed at a crossing in Leatherwood, AL on the now abandoned L&N line Gadsden, AL to Anniston, AL (the part from where it crossed the SAL's Atlanta Line just south of Glenco, AL to Gadsden is now operated by the ATN), and was acquired by the museum in 1997. The wig-wag had originally been installed in 1913 by the L&N railroad! As far as I'm aware, this is the last surviving wig-wag in the entire state of Alabama. Interestingly enough, the bell is a rare RRS (Railroad Supply Co., pre-WRRS) bell.
The museum also has a US&S cantilever signal with a US&S Teardrop bell on display. However, it's still being restored so it lacks lights and a crossbuck, nor does it work. Though, according to some people at the railroad, it should be finished within a few months, IIRC.