Vertical crossing signals

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A less common crossing signal warned motorists of oncoming trains by blinking “stop.” Kevin King Q As a child in the 1950s and 1960s, I saw a number of railroad grade crossings on the Wabash that were protected by a row of vertical lights on the signal mast in addition to the standard red alternating […]

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Highball

A southbound Norfolk Southern freight takes the clear signal at South Leesburg, Ind., on May 16, 2011. The former New York Central branch line was upgraded with Pennsylvania-style position light signals recycled from other routes during Penn Central ownership. Photo by Bob Jordan […]

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Indiana stranger

  A northbound Norfolk Southern freight passes the unique siding switch and signals at North Leesburg, Ind., on March 24, 2011. The Santa Fe-painted locomotive is a run-through from BNSF Railway. Photo by Bob Jordan […]

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Traffic jammer

  A northbound Norfolk Southern train enters the street running at Warsaw, Ind., on March 24, 2011. The signal guards the crossing of the former Pennsylvania Railroad main line, now the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern. The former New York Central branch line was upgraded with Pennsylvania-style position light signals recycled from other routes during […]

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Model Rectifier Corp walk-around throttle

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Marc Horovitz Hand-held remote throttle Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC) 80 Newfield Avenue Edison NJ 08837 Price: $42.98 Website: www.modelrectifier.com Hand-held walk-around throttle (#0001325) to be used with MRC 9900 and 9950 powerpacks. Dimensions: length, 41/2″; width, 23⁄8″; thickness, 7⁄8″. Weight (not including cord), 2 1/2 oz. Pros: Lightweight, hand-held device gives walk-around capability for controlling […]

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Two signals ‘wigwag’ their last in Wisconsin NEWSWIRE

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Wigwag signals protect a highway crossing in Baraboo, Wis., for the last time on Monday, March 28. When a Wisconsin & Southern train passed the crossing the next day, the signals were inactive. Crews took down the signals later that day on March 29. John Gruber A pair of rare, former Chicago & North Western […]

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Railroad town

  CSX Transportation C40-8 No. 7572 pounds the diamonds in Marion, Ohio, on Oct. 19, 2014. In the distance is the former Erie Railroad yard, now used by CSX; at left is Marion Union Station, now a museum. Photo by Brian Schmidt […]

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Bachmann manual turnout switch stand

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Marc Horovitz Manual turnout switch stand Bachmann Industries 1400 East Erie Avenue Philadelphia PA 19124 Price: $17 Website: www.bachmanntrains.com Manual switch machine (#94648); removable indicator flags; three sets of standoffs and actuator bars provided; two throw distances possible; instructions supplied Pros: Well-made product; heavy construction; throw handle stays in place with detents; mechanism well sealed […]

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History According to Hediger: Interlocking insights

Man with model interlocking machine

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader magazine’s senior editor Jim Hediger returns to the MRVP studio! In this episode, he first explains how a real plant works, before describing how former MR editors Paul Larson and Gordon Odegard engineered a model for use on an HO scale […]

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History According to Hediger: Interlocking insights

Man with model interlocking machine

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader magazine’s senior editor Jim Hediger returns to the MRVP studio! In this episode, he first explains how a real plant works, before describing how former MR editors Paul Larson and Gordon Odegard engineered a model for use on an HO scale […]

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