Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

I found a former Milwaukee Road line that runs through Tacoma, Washington and none of the older crossing signals on that line have bells, despite being gateless. Did the Milwaukee Road refrain from using bells?

The former Milwaukee Road crossing on Iowa 210 between Madrid and Slater had two gated 8" signals without bells as well. Unfortunately most of that line had been pulled up before I came of age enough to know what signals were used on it. CNW replaced the signals in the town of Madrid though after they took over the stretch of line from Slater to Madrid... as they were 12x24's w/out gates.

There are a lot of flashing light crossings without a bell on former Milwaukee Road lines in southern Wisconsin. Some of them have gotten the 8" lights replaced this past year with 12" x 24" L.E.D. lights as I have mentioned in other threads, but those without bells did not get a bell added. Those that already had bells had that same bell left behind, including one with a completely dead Safetran mechanical bell.

Thanks, guys. I figured it was SOP.

I remember the signals on the Iowa Division in Madrid on Highway 210.they were originally Griswold Signals with wishbone gate arms up until the Milwaukee left in March 1980.