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- Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad Crossing, Wauseon, Ohio, June 1926 - On the railroad, "grade crossing" refers not only to a railroad-roadway crossing, but also to the intersection of two different railroad lines. Both crossing types are seen in this photo. The road crossing is protected by signs with flashing warning lights. The crossing of the two railroads, farther in the distance, is protected by semaphore signals mounted atop tall poles.
- June 04, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad Crossing, Wauseon, Ohio, June 1926
On the railroad, "grade crossing" refers not only to a railroad-roadway crossing, but also to the intersection of two different railroad lines. Both crossing types are seen in this photo. The road crossing is protected by signs with flashing warning lights. The crossing of the two railroads, farther in the distance, is protected by semaphore signals mounted atop tall poles.
- Railroad Crossing Signal, September 1924 - The first automated, flashing red light railroad crossing signal appeared around 1913. The flashing lights mimicked the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. The X-shaped crossbuck sign, in wide use by 1900, was inspired by the skull and crossbones -- a universal symbol for danger.
- September 06, 1924
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Signal, September 1924
The first automated, flashing red light railroad crossing signal appeared around 1913. The flashing lights mimicked the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. The X-shaped crossbuck sign, in wide use by 1900, was inspired by the skull and crossbones -- a universal symbol for danger.
- Railroad Crossing Signal, September 1924 - Wigwag railroad crossing signals, named for the way they swung back and forth when activated, first appeared around 1914. Their waving action simulated the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. Typically, wigwags were driven by a pair of electromagnets that alternately pulled and released the pendulum.
- September 16, 1924
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Signal, September 1924
Wigwag railroad crossing signals, named for the way they swung back and forth when activated, first appeared around 1914. Their waving action simulated the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. Typically, wigwags were driven by a pair of electromagnets that alternately pulled and released the pendulum.
- Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, March 1925 - Automatic railroad crossing signals are controlled through an electrical relay in the railroad track. A low-voltage electric current is sent between the two rails via a series of relays like the ones in this photo. When a train approaches, the current runs through the train's metal wheels and axles instead of the relays. This "short circuit" activates the crossing signal.
- March 20, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, March 1925
Automatic railroad crossing signals are controlled through an electrical relay in the railroad track. A low-voltage electric current is sent between the two rails via a series of relays like the ones in this photo. When a train approaches, the current runs through the train's metal wheels and axles instead of the relays. This "short circuit" activates the crossing signal.
- Railroad Crossing Signal Light Control Box, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, November 1926 - Automatic railroad crossing signals are controlled through an electrical relay in the railroad track. A low-voltage electric current is sent between the two rails via a series of relays like the ones in this photo. When a train approaches, the current runs through the train's metal wheels and axles instead of the relays. This "short circuit" activates the crossing signal.
- November 02, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Signal Light Control Box, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, November 1926
Automatic railroad crossing signals are controlled through an electrical relay in the railroad track. A low-voltage electric current is sent between the two rails via a series of relays like the ones in this photo. When a train approaches, the current runs through the train's metal wheels and axles instead of the relays. This "short circuit" activates the crossing signal.
- Railroad Crossing Warning Signal, September 1924 - Wigwag railroad crossing signals, named for the way they swung back and forth when activated, first appeared around 1914. Their waving action simulated the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. Typically, wigwags were driven by a pair of electromagnets that alternately pulled and released the pendulum.
- September 16, 1924
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Warning Signal, September 1924
Wigwag railroad crossing signals, named for the way they swung back and forth when activated, first appeared around 1914. Their waving action simulated the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. Typically, wigwags were driven by a pair of electromagnets that alternately pulled and released the pendulum.
- Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, September 1924 - The first automated, flashing red light railroad crossing signal appeared around 1913. The flashing lights mimicked the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. The X-shaped crossbuck sign, in wide use by 1900, was inspired by the skull and crossbones -- a universal symbol for danger.
- September 18, 1924
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, September 1924
The first automated, flashing red light railroad crossing signal appeared around 1913. The flashing lights mimicked the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. The X-shaped crossbuck sign, in wide use by 1900, was inspired by the skull and crossbones -- a universal symbol for danger.
- Railroad Crossing Signal Lights, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, November 1926 - The first automated, flashing red light railroad crossing signal appeared around 1913. The flashing lights mimicked the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. The X-shaped crossbuck sign, in wide use by 1900, was inspired by the skull and crossbones -- a universal symbol for danger.
- November 02, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Signal Lights, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, November 1926
The first automated, flashing red light railroad crossing signal appeared around 1913. The flashing lights mimicked the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. The X-shaped crossbuck sign, in wide use by 1900, was inspired by the skull and crossbones -- a universal symbol for danger.
- Railroad Crossing Signal Lights, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, November 1926 - Blind curves -- whether on the railroad, the road, or both -- added another element of danger to a railroad crossing. Crossings like this were some of the first to be protected with automated warning devices. The lights and bells on these signs were activated whenever an approaching train tripped an electrical relay wired to the track.
- November 02, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Signal Lights, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, November 1926
Blind curves -- whether on the railroad, the road, or both -- added another element of danger to a railroad crossing. Crossings like this were some of the first to be protected with automated warning devices. The lights and bells on these signs were activated whenever an approaching train tripped an electrical relay wired to the track.
- Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, September 1924 - The first automated, flashing red light railroad crossing signal appeared around 1913. The flashing lights mimicked the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. The X-shaped crossbuck sign, in wide use by 1900, was inspired by the skull and crossbones -- a universal symbol for danger.
- September 27, 1924
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, September 1924
The first automated, flashing red light railroad crossing signal appeared around 1913. The flashing lights mimicked the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. The X-shaped crossbuck sign, in wide use by 1900, was inspired by the skull and crossbones -- a universal symbol for danger.