Block Signal Semaphore and Searchlight.wmv

Two block lights sit across from each other on an old Monon now CSX east from Salem, Indiana. One is a Searchlight and one is a Semaphore. Neither one looks to be used any more, no power, lack of track use.

The Semaphore has a kerosene/oil/diesel lantern sitting at the base. I don't know if the lantern was used for lighting the Semaphore at one time.

The Spotlight is numbered 284.8

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• trains
• railroad
• track
• block
• signal
• railway
• switch
• machine
• electronics
• faning
• monon
• model
• csx
• semaphore
• locomotive
• diesel
• prototype

[Conrail3385]

@ConarailSD70MAC could very well be spring switch.

yes, very possible for future use. i do have more footage to up load with more cars being stored along the same tracks south in Pekin, IN. I was driving and holding the camera to video the cars just sitting there on the tracks, and the road is state rd. 60 heading north out of town. Google map shows all these cars on the tracks in the map format.

[Conrail3385]

@ConrailSD70MAC thank you for very much for that info. sums it up alot for me.

[Conrail3385]

@Railhead1956

Thanks

[Conrail3385]

You may be right trainmancw, the track itself is still in opperational condition. i have not seen any trains moving here. The gondolas at the begining of the vid have been sitting there for a year.

[Conrail3385]

I think the line is just being used as storing gondolas and other cars. I've not seen any activity on it for at least a year now. The signals do not apear to be used. There is no electric power running through the poles that run in this area.

[storrs19]

@ConrailSD70MAC Most all sidings on the Monon had spring switches at both ends. As time went on and they became unreliable from lack of maintenance most were removed. You are correct in that the SS is for Spring Switch. Some signs also used to read "Use No Sand" as it would mess up the springing action of the switch.

[storrs19]

This is the South End of Fogg on the former Monon. A few days ago a train put some cars in the siding for storage. Back in November they cleared the line of stored cars. Of course yesterday several tornadoes rolled through this area so I don't know what damage occured to the railroad. I'm pretty sure the signal system has been out of service for some time on this line although they ay appear to still be working.

[Larrymh07]

I hate the standardization of RR signals. I guess these Class 1s don't run their businesses for our entertainment. ;)

[railstoruin]

What you've found there is spectacularly rare and unique. It may well have been a kerosene lamp on that semaphore at one time, before being replaced with an electric light. Thanks for posting and best wishes for all of your adventures through time!! :)

[ConrailSD70MAC]

If you Google the CSX/Louisville & Indiana trackage rights agreement, you will find that it was approved on November 19 2010. So ending trains on this segment of the Monon.

Don't hold your breath though. The line could be railbanked for future use. Hence the stored cars.

[ConrailSD70MAC]

I'm wondering if this was once the location of a spring switch. Judging by the SS sign.

The searchlight target was for trains southbound (for another spring switch at the other end of the siding?) and the semaphone was for trains going north into the next block?

[ConrailSD70MAC]

CSX did operate trains between Louisville and St. Louis, Missouri over the Louisville-Mitchell segment; these trains had to make an unusual reverse movement to go from the Monon to the former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line to St. Louis, owing to an unfavorable track arrangement at the crossing of the lines in Mitchell. As of 2010, CSX stopped making regular movements over the line, with trains being shifted to the nearby Louisville and Indiana Railroad via a trackage rights agreement.