Erie Semaphores (was: (erielack) Erie Signals - Comments)

[pat.moore_@_att.net]

WDB (and list)...  

Great thread we've got going here.  I can't believe this has never come up before now...

WDB said...
> 7.)  Approach lighting.  I don't recall seeing approach lighting  anywhere 
> on EL in central or western New York.  

Hmmm...I thought that the Erie semaphores on "the swale" were approach-lit.

I distinctly remember sitting by the window of my grandmother's house in Addison at night and seeing the westbound semaphore come to life with a green light.  If we were waiting for a train, this was usually the first indication that a westbound was imminent as the sound of the westbound freights didn't echo as well.  Eastbounds were different.  The sound of the locomotives could often be heard for 5-10 minutes before they showed up.

Anyway, after the power passed the signal, it would drop and remain lit red for awhile.  Once the train was out of the block to the rear of the signal (I presume), the arm would lift to 45 degrees and the lamp would stay lit for one or two seconds and then would go dark.  That is, unless another westbound was on its heels.  On occasion when an eastbound would run on the wrong main, the WB semaphore arm would drop and the lamp would turn on before the train arrived.

- -pat moore



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