Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Vaughn MacKenzie
TDR MEMBER
I don't hide the fact I'm a RR fanatic, particularly when it comes to steam locomotives and vintage rail equipment.
Driving north on I5 from California yesterday I was pleased to see many sets of semaphone signals still in place and apparently in working order. I probably spotted 10 sets. These unique mechanical devices have pretty much disappeared from the RR scene and not a single one can be found in many states anymore. They require maintenance and are basically outmoded and have not been manufactured since the 1930s or so.
The semaphores on the rail lines in Oregon were installed in 1912 and apparently are still in working order. Two of them were illuminated (typically signals go dark with no rail traffic nearby, sorta like standy). 92 years of service isn't too shabby.
Sometime I hope to make a trip to Oregon and catch some in action and get some pictures before they are a thing of the past. I don't travel I5 to California often and I was almost surprised most of them were still there. It's been a good 4 years and many have come down since then. They are a hot item among RR buffs.
I just think they're kinda cool and quite unique
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Driving north on I5 from California yesterday I was pleased to see many sets of semaphone signals still in place and apparently in working order. I probably spotted 10 sets. These unique mechanical devices have pretty much disappeared from the RR scene and not a single one can be found in many states anymore. They require maintenance and are basically outmoded and have not been manufactured since the 1930s or so.
The semaphores on the rail lines in Oregon were installed in 1912 and apparently are still in working order. Two of them were illuminated (typically signals go dark with no rail traffic nearby, sorta like standy). 92 years of service isn't too shabby.
Sometime I hope to make a trip to Oregon and catch some in action and get some pictures before they are a thing of the past. I don't travel I5 to California often and I was almost surprised most of them were still there. It's been a good 4 years and many have come down since then. They are a hot item among RR buffs.
I just think they're kinda cool and quite unique
#ad
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Sometimes it's tough to beat the old mechanical counterpart.
