[Date Prev][Date Next] [Chronological] [Thread] [Top]

(erielack) Erie Railroad Color Light Signals



OK, here's a real trivia question that has stumped me. The 1935 standard plan 
for wayside signals which was adopted by the Van Sweringen roads specified 
that, on a three-signal-head color light interlocking signal, the color lights 
of each signal head would be ordered, top to bottom, as follows:

Top: Red-Yellow-Green ("traffic light order")
Middle: Yellow-Green-Red
Bottom: Red-Yellow-Green

Does anyone know why this was? What was the theory?

Reviewing the books I have at hand, it's evident that this standard was 
generally complied with on the Erie and NKP at least, but I also see some evidence 
that by the 1970's the specified order had fallen into some disarray.

WDB

------------------------------