9 light PL arm

[NW Mailing List]

Let me correct something I sent earlier...

In my time at Roanoke (1960s-1970s,) there was a switching signal 
just west of 24th St, but it was color light and not position 
light.  In my time, all of the switching signals were color light.

Matter of fact, there were two such signals controlled off the same 
conductor's box.  One was on the bank, north of the westbound main 
line, just east of the water softener tanks.  The other was on the 
north side of the westbound main line down around the old Kroeger 
warehouse on Shenandoah Ave.

To the best of my memory, here is a list of the "switching signals" at Roanoke:

1.)  At the Pull Up Yard, 16th St.  See attached 1961 
photos.  Control was in the conductor's box which is visible between 
the T-6 engine and 16th St Yard Office building of the attached 
photo.  Used for giving signals to the Pull Up Engineer when he made 
a long pull west on the Tail Track.

2.)  At east end of Empty Side Yard, as mentioned below.

3.) At 672, a.k.a. The Pull In.  Located in very small shanty in the 
middle of the yard tracks, at west end of Eastbound Running 
Track.  Controlled switching signals west of 672.  Used by crews 
switching at 672 and making long pulls west on the Westbound R.T.

4.)  At "new" WB.  Control box was on a pole at west end of Empty 
Side yard and south of the Westbound Main Line.  Used for the West 
End Engine while switching at west end of Empty Side Yard.

5.)  At west end of South Roanoke Yard.  I can't remember where the 
control was... it may have been in the AG scale house... I can't 
remember.  Someone should ask Tom Victory.

6.)  There may have been one at east end of South Roanoke Yard, too, 
for the "A" Crew while switching the head end of trains at the east 
end of South Yard.  I just can't remember.  Someone should ask Tom 
Victory about this, too.

7.)  And, of course, there were the Hump Signals at SX, which worked 
the very same way.  One set of signals for South Side of Receiving 
Yard, another set for North Side of Receiving Yard.  There were 
signals at the crest of the hump and, I think, two more (which gave 
identical indications) back in the Receiving Yard.

8.)  Oh, there was also a set at 15th St.  Control was in a little 
enclosure at the south end of the foot bridge over the yard (which 
was moved there from 16th St sometime around 1963.)  Signal was 
mounted right on the foot bridge.  Was usually used by the 1040 Crew 
when switching coal on the long tracks (#50 - #57.)  The conductor 
would use it to relay his brakeman's lantern signals to the 
engineman, who was "around the curve and down the hill."

I hope you don't mind me copying in some others who might have better 
recollections on these matters.

-- abram burnett

-------------- Original message --------------
It's probably a switching signal.  No way it is a block signal or 
interlocking signal.  It's even on the wrong side of the track !!! 
for a block or interlocking signal.  The fact that it is up on the 
bank indicates it is a switching signal... put up high for visibility 
sake.  There used to be one of these just west of the 24th St 
Underpass at SX; the control box for it, containing a large four- or 
five-position rotary switch, was down on the Empty Side ladder and 
the Empty Side Conductor used it to give signals to the engineer for 
long switching moves where the engine disappeared from his 
sight.  There was also one at the Radford Division Pull In (a.k.a. 
"the Stock Pen" or "672") at the west end of the Receiving Yard, at 
the location of old WB, and there was another one at the very west 
end of the yard, "new" WB. Radios make such switching signals redundant.