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- Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, March 1925 - In the United States, locomotive engineers must sound a specific sequence of horn or whistle blasts when approaching most road crossings: two long blasts, one short, and one more long. Railroads frequently placed a whistle post, like this one, along the track about one-quarter mile before a crossing to notify the engineer when to use the horn.
- March 20, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, March 1925
In the United States, locomotive engineers must sound a specific sequence of horn or whistle blasts when approaching most road crossings: two long blasts, one short, and one more long. Railroads frequently placed a whistle post, like this one, along the track about one-quarter mile before a crossing to notify the engineer when to use the horn.
- Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad Crossing, Lima, Ohio, 1923 - This rural railroad crossing near Lima, Ohio, illustrates an early danger to motorists and railroaders. Vegetation along the track obscured drivers' vision, and fast-moving trains could not stop quickly. Drivers were advised to "stop, look and listen," as written on the crossing sign's post, before they proceeded over railroad tracks. Improved warning devices and safety awareness campaigns made crossings safer.
- 1923
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad Crossing, Lima, Ohio, 1923
This rural railroad crossing near Lima, Ohio, illustrates an early danger to motorists and railroaders. Vegetation along the track obscured drivers' vision, and fast-moving trains could not stop quickly. Drivers were advised to "stop, look and listen," as written on the crossing sign's post, before they proceeded over railroad tracks. Improved warning devices and safety awareness campaigns made crossings safer.
- Railroad Crossing, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, December 1925 - Busy railroad crossings were protected by a signal person or, later, automated warning devices. Quieter crossings -- those on little-used branch lines or spurs, or over lightly traveled rural roads -- might only be marked with a sign. Designs varied by railroad company, but most used an X-shaped sign with a message like "Stop, Look and Listen" or "Look Out for the Cars."
- December 01, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, December 1925
Busy railroad crossings were protected by a signal person or, later, automated warning devices. Quieter crossings -- those on little-used branch lines or spurs, or over lightly traveled rural roads -- might only be marked with a sign. Designs varied by railroad company, but most used an X-shaped sign with a message like "Stop, Look and Listen" or "Look Out for the Cars."
- 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 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, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, Oak Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, June 1926 - Apart from eliminating it altogether, the safest way to protect a railroad crossing is with movable gates. The earliest gates, introduced around 1870, were hand-operated by an employee stationed at the crossing. Automated gates first appeared in the 1930s. Four-quadrant gates completely block off the road, while more common two-quadrant gates block each lane only in the direction of travel.
- June 16, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, Oak Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, June 1926
Apart from eliminating it altogether, the safest way to protect a railroad crossing is with movable gates. The earliest gates, introduced around 1870, were hand-operated by an employee stationed at the crossing. Automated gates first appeared in the 1930s. Four-quadrant gates completely block off the road, while more common two-quadrant gates block each lane only in the direction of travel.
- Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad Passenger Depot, Detroit, Michigan, 1923 - This photo illustrates transportation's changing face as a Model T waits for a passenger train. The train, consisting of a baggage and express car and a single coach, probably provided local service, stopping at every station along the way to handle passengers and packages. Local trains were the first to be eliminated as passengers turned to automobiles for short trips.
- August 16, 1923
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad Passenger Depot, Detroit, Michigan, 1923
This photo illustrates transportation's changing face as a Model T waits for a passenger train. The train, consisting of a baggage and express car and a single coach, probably provided local service, stopping at every station along the way to handle passengers and packages. Local trains were the first to be eliminated as passengers turned to automobiles for short trips.
- 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.
- Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, Wyandotte, Michigan, March 1925 - 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.
- March 20, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, Wyandotte, Michigan, March 1925
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.