B&O Indy Line Semaphores 1999

In 1999, we followed CSX' ex-B&O Cincinnati-Indianapolis main line westward to photograph the soon-to-be-removed upper-quadrant semaphores. Note the tri-light "Darth Vader" signals already in place at some locations.

The first shot is of the overpass at Connersville, Indiana, where the B&O crosses over the Whitewater Valley Railroad.

After that, we see various sets of semaphores as we head west.
0:06-0:36 - Glenwood, Indiana
0:37-1:04 - Mauzy, Indiana
1:05-1:21 - Rushville, Indiana, which was once served by FIVE railroads. A Nickel Plate branch and Big Four branch paralleled each other from the north. The Big Four crossed the B&O and headed south to North Vernon, while the NKP merged up with the B&O. The Big Four was abandoned in 1973, while the NKP was severed north of Sexton in 1989. The NKP is now a short line called the Honey Creek Railroad and runs from the B&O interchange north to the grain elevator in Sexton. An ex-Conrail SW-7 sits in the grass. A PRR branch left the St. Louis main line at Camblestown, and came into Rushville from the northeast and merged up with the B&O. It too, is long gone. In addition to the B&O, an interurban once paralleled it from Connersville to Indianapolis.

1:22-1:36 - Arlington, Indiana
1:37-1:46 - Gwynneville, Indiana. Note the interurban substation across the tracks.
1:47-1:49 - Morristown, Indiana, where a wig-wag signal was located until 1996.
1:50-2:13 - Fountaintown, Indiana where a semaphore sits adjacent to a B&O CPL.

All of these semaphores were replaced within a year of our visit.

Category:

Science & Technology

[ctw100s]

Is the wigwag signal still like that or has it been reinstalled with gates?

[ma7799]

@ctw100s

The wig-wag was replaced in 1996.

[storrs19]

They also had semaphores at New Palestine as well. Square Bladed ones meant an absolute signal while pointed blades meant permissive. This is great footage.

[ma7799]

"They also had semaphores at New Palestine as well. Square Bladed ones meant an absolute signal while pointed blades meant permissive. This is great footage."

Wow, I didn't know that! Thanks for the compliments.

[Conraildan]

That honey creek railroad SW7 is still the same engine they use at Rushville, today.

[ma7799]

Do you know how often they operate?

[TrainTrackTrav]

WOW! Too bad they went bye bye.

God bless!

[claimless]

@ma7799 I think they operate...Now..twice a week when grain traffic is up.

[CSXandSpartanfan33]

So it's all abandon now

[TheZeke1974]

Oh wow. I remember the overpass as a kid on a trip in 1980 or so. its odd that CSX replaced the signals and redid the line that only sees a few trains a day.

[claimless]

I remember seeing the Semaphores on Spencer St. in Rushville all the time. It was the coolest thing ever. They eventually put a new signal there, and one up around where the new Pioneer Siding is. Those have since then been removed due to that new siding. And the signals are always on for that siding.

[paullubliner]

@ma7799:/_ This was "Absolute Permissive Block " signaling. The square "absolute" blade was at a headblock or end of siding and entering single track. All the intermediate semaphores between sidings would "Tumble Down" once something hit the block in a cascading effect, one following the other. The problem arose when two opposing trains hit a headblock simultaneously. SOMEONE had to back into the siding to their rear!