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Mixed signals in Waltham
By adamg on Sun, 04/10/2016 - 2:24pm
Back in the old days, railroads used to use semaphores to signal train engineers whether they could go forward and how fast. You can still see one of these semaphores where the old Boston & Maine (now MBTA, natch) line to Fitchburg crosses Elm Street in downtown Waltham - mounted on a switching tower that sits next to a switch for what used to be a line to Watertown.
The signals were, of course, not very useful at night, so there were also bulbs to signal engineers:
Nowadays, the line is equipped with much larger lights to tell engineers whether it's safe to proceed:
The old switch tower and its signals are next to the Gordon Center for the Arts, which appears to be running a sale on select items:
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Comments
Actually Waltham tower is
Actually Waltham tower is still in service. At least it was recently. Not sure if that changed with all the signal upgrades as part of the Fitchburg Line improvements project.
Thanks
Shows you what I know! Made an assumption (dangerous to do, of course) that without the switch to the spur line, there wasn't anything left to switch.
The Struggle for Feeling is Not Ours
Within these walls you will find your "Happy Hunting Ground".
Hah, another Waltham Supermarket customer!
I think I still have unredeemed S&H Green Stamps from that place up in the attic.
Waltham
That first photo is the former train order signal and not to be confused with the
regular wayside signals at Moody or Elm Streets. A train order signal was used
when the train dispatcher via the operator at a tower would have train orders for
speed restrictions and other special operating conditions. The metal blade in a
extended straight out position would be a considered a stop signal and notice
Waltham has a train order (s) for them. As indicated in the photo, straight down
means no orders.
Waltham Tower was retired a few years ago, though the signal department uses
it for various things. It was the last true tower in Massachusetts, despite Buzzards
Bay being still around.
Paul
RR signal tower
Gotta love the rail road buffs!
We should do self driving
We should do self driving trains before self driving cars. Then they could pull out all train facing signals. There's alot of maintenance saved just in bulb maintenance.
Doesn't the federal Positive
Doesn't the federal Positive Train Control mandate include cab signals and more?