Places that have extremely old signals

[traffic light guy]

I found some ancient 1950's era Crouse-Hinds type DT heads in Collingdale, PA:

Crouse-Hinds Art Decos by thesignalman, on Flickr

Crouse-Hinds Art Deco by thesignalman, on Flickr

Crouse-Hinds Art Decos by thesignalman, on Flickr

Crouse-Hinds Art Decos by thesignalman, on Flickr

Crouse-Hinds Art Deco signals by thesignalman, on Flickr

Crouse-Hinds Art Decos by thesignalman, on Flickr

Crouse-Hinds Art Deco by thesignalman, on Flickr

Ancient Crouse-hinds art deocs by thesignalman, on Flickr

Crouse-Hinds Art Deco signals by thesignalman, on Flickr

Crouse-Hinds Art Decos by thesignalman, on Flickr

Crouse-Hinds Art Deco signals by thesignalman, on Flickr

[silveradoman298]

Here is a long gone pair from Detroit that saw better days...

Lawton at McGraw (2009)(2) by Silveradoman298, on Flickr

Or this configuration just shut off and left to rot like many other's in Detroit

Hamilton Ave at Manchester Pkwy by Silveradoman298, on Flickr

[bcroadguy]

I'm not too great with signal brands but I think I found some Eagle Flatbacks in Merritt, BC (the overhead signals):

https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.1096444,-120.7874103,3a,45.8y,280.84h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suEX9Fum7JpJ8C7jZhnFXNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[jakeroot]

I'm not too great with signal brands but I think I found some Eagle Flatbacks in Merritt, BC (the overhead signals):

https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.1096444,-120.7874103,3a,45.8y,280.84h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suEX9Fum7JpJ8C7jZhnFXNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Definitely looks like it!

No overhead backplates at that intersection...that really gives its age away. I can only think of one other area in BC without any overhead: https://goo.gl/maps/8vtaEtuRFbMZaCvK9

[bcroadguy]

I'm not too great with signal brands but I think I found some Eagle Flatbacks in Merritt, BC (the overhead signals):

https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.1096444,-120.7874103,3a,45.8y,280.84h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suEX9Fum7JpJ8C7jZhnFXNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Definitely looks like it!

No overhead backplates at that intersection...that really gives its age away. I can only think of one other area in BC without any overhead: https://goo.gl/maps/8vtaEtuRFbMZaCvK9

There used to be a few more in Victoria and Saanich that I remember from when I was little, but I think most of them are gone now. Kitimat has a bunch of weird old Franken-signals with Ontario / Quebec style mast arms that have no backplates:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@54.0552905,-128.6539777,3a,49.5y,294.27h,88.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxzsRUDirCWSK-fKvldSCcw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Weirdly, it looks like they replaced the post-mounted 5-section signal (super super rare around here / the only ones I've ever seen are very old) with a brand new 5-section signal, still with 8-inch arrows, at some point between 2012 and 2018. Idk what they're doing up there. 

[PHLBOS]

I found some ancient 1950's era Crouse-Hinds type DT heads in Collingdale, PA:

Crouse-Hinds Art Decos by thesignalman, on Flickr

That one looks like it had its green lens retrofitted with a newer type (not sure if its LED).

The rest of those Collingdale signals (I reside just a few miles from there) pics you posted appear to have their (close to) original lenses.

[ftballfan]

Here is a video of the latest old signal I found. It's in Stanwood, Michigan. https://youtu.be/xaYjo1G6sdk

It has to date back to when Stanwood Dr/Front St was US-131 (it would be old old US-131 as old US-131 runs parallel to the west)

[jakeroot]

I'm not too great with signal brands but I think I found some Eagle Flatbacks in Merritt, BC (the overhead signals):

https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.1096444,-120.7874103,3a,45.8y,280.84h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suEX9Fum7JpJ8C7jZhnFXNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Definitely looks like it!

No overhead backplates at that intersection...that really gives its age away. I can only think of one other area in BC without any overhead: https://goo.gl/maps/8vtaEtuRFbMZaCvK9

There used to be a few more in Victoria and Saanich that I remember from when I was little, but I think most of them are gone now. Kitimat has a bunch of weird old Franken-signals with Ontario / Quebec style mast arms that have no backplates:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@54.0552905,-128.6539777,3a,49.5y,294.27h,88.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxzsRUDirCWSK-fKvldSCcw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Weirdly, it looks like they replaced the post-mounted 5-section signal (super super rare around here / the only ones I've ever seen are very old) with a brand new 5-section signal, still with 8-inch arrows, at some point between 2012 and 2018. Idk what they're doing up there. 

That's awesome! Never in my life have I seen a 12-8-8-8-8 tower. Just incredible. Of course it would be in BC, queen of 8-inch signals.

I had no idea that there were any 5-section signals in BC ("super super rare" be damned...I thought they were extinct or just plain never existed). And they're painted silver for good measure.

Too bad Kitimat is such a long drive. I would love to get some photos of those signals.

[bcroadguy]

I'm not too great with signal brands but I think I found some Eagle Flatbacks in Merritt, BC (the overhead signals):

https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.1096444,-120.7874103,3a,45.8y,280.84h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suEX9Fum7JpJ8C7jZhnFXNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Definitely looks like it!

No overhead backplates at that intersection...that really gives its age away. I can only think of one other area in BC without any overhead: https://goo.gl/maps/8vtaEtuRFbMZaCvK9

There used to be a few more in Victoria and Saanich that I remember from when I was little, but I think most of them are gone now. Kitimat has a bunch of weird old Franken-signals with Ontario / Quebec style mast arms that have no backplates:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@54.0552905,-128.6539777,3a,49.5y,294.27h,88.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxzsRUDirCWSK-fKvldSCcw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Weirdly, it looks like they replaced the post-mounted 5-section signal (super super rare around here / the only ones I've ever seen are very old) with a brand new 5-section signal, still with 8-inch arrows, at some point between 2012 and 2018. Idk what they're doing up there. 

That's awesome! Never in my life have I seen a 12-8-8-8-8 tower. Just incredible. Of course it would be in BC, queen of 8-inch signals.

I had no idea that there were any 5-section signals in BC ("super super rare" be damned...I thought they were extinct or just plain never existed). And they're painted silver for good measure.

Too bad Kitimat is such a long drive. I would love to get some photos of those signals.

They're rare but there are a few:

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.0902585,-123.0784365,3a,18.1y,207.76h,90.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sXBP3Zr2g9VceA6ZWWPtv2g!2e0!5s20190701T000000!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.4306838,-123.4006049,3a,22.8y,197.77h,92.82t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srM-hdljjwraPibhlUz4Okg!2e0!5s20170801T000000!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.429906,-123.4169668,3a,41.3y,295.61h,95.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5CdamW-uP0AOx8szaT5_iw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.9205962,-122.7940833,3a,15y,305.25h,91.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGwVi3dnq-L45hJFJpWLgCA!2e0!5s20180801T000000!7i13312!8i6656

[jakeroot]

I had no idea that there were any 5-section signals in BC ("super super rare" be damned...I thought they were extinct or just plain never existed). And they're painted silver for good measure.

They're rare but there are a few:

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.0902585,-123.0784365,3a,18.1y,207.76h,90.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sXBP3Zr2g9VceA6ZWWPtv2g!2e0!5s20190701T000000!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.4306838,-123.4006049,3a,22.8y,197.77h,92.82t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srM-hdljjwraPibhlUz4Okg!2e0!5s20170801T000000!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.429906,-123.4169668,3a,41.3y,295.61h,95.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5CdamW-uP0AOx8szaT5_iw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.9205962,-122.7940833,3a,15y,305.25h,91.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGwVi3dnq-L45hJFJpWLgCA!2e0!5s20180801T000000!7i13312!8i6656

I'm glad I didn't spot those two in Delta when I was last there. Probably would have crashed my car.

I'll be there on Friday, and I will definitely be taking some photos! BC appears to be the only jurisdiction in North America to exclusively utilize 8-inch green and yellow arrows for 5-section signals (apart from that one signal in Prince George). Which is totally in-line with British Columbia practice, but, well, still unusual.

[silveradoman298]

Here's a pedestrian signal with the lighted WALK border, that pretty much doesn't exist in Michigan any longer, this may be one of the only ones left in the Detroit area.

Holbrook at Lumpkin (2019)(2) by Silveradoman298, on Flickr

[US71]

Sorry if this has already been asked, but define "old". Oldest I know of is the 4way signal in Kansas City.

Are we talking 20 years, 30 years?

[D-Dey65]

There used to be a traffic signal at West Oak Street and Maple Avenue that you can't convince me was made after 1950. You'd be lucky if you could get me to believe it was made after 1945. I don't know who the manufacturer was, but it was replaced sometime in the 1990's.

[traffic light guy]

Sorry if this has already been asked, but define "old". Oldest I know of is the 4way signal in Kansas City.

Are we talking 20 years, 30 years?

At least 40 years old

[US71]

Amarillo, TX / old US 66


Denison, TX (now flashing 4-way)

[thenetwork]

Sorry if this has already been asked, but define "old". Oldest I know of is the 4way signal in Kansas City.

Are we talking 20 years, 30 years?

IMO, I define old signals as traffic lights made of metal.  By the 1980s, most traffic light housings and visors were made of a plastic/polymer material. 

[traffic light guy]

I found a few 12" Eagle Flatback doghouses in my area. Although these are not the first doghouses ever, since the first doghouses were obviously not 12 inch. Many areas have experimented with doghouses a decade prior, before the MUTCD approved doghouses, since standards were more ambiguous back then. However, these Doghouses are among the oldest within the Philadelphia area. Back when these Doghouses were installed, 4-section signals were used a lot more often than protected left turn signals. Thus making it very jarring to see Doghouses that are this old. As far as I know, these 12" Eagle Flatback Doghouses were installed at some point during the nineteen-seventies. I honestly believe that PennDOT didn't have any doghouses at all before these 12" Eagle flatbacks.

Two side-mounted Doghouses in Lower Merion:

Eagle Signals on a silver pole w/old doghouse mounted on the side by thesignalman, on Flickr

12-inch Eagle Flatback Doghouse by thesignalman, on Flickr

Three more 12" Eagle Flatback Doghouses in Bristol Township (The two mast-arm supported doghouses got replaced):

12-inch Eagle Flatback Doghouse traffic signal by thesignalman, on Flickr

12-inch Eagle Flatback Doghouse, 12-inch Econolite Buttonback, and an 8-inch Eagle flatback by thesignalman, on Flickr

12-inch Eagle Flatback Doghouse, a 12-inch TCT, an 8-inch eagle flatback, and an eaglelux by thesignalman, on Flickr

[jakeroot]

Just for the record, your photography skills have improved dramatically with time. Very nice photos!

[STLmapboy]

Bit of a bump:
Southern Alabama has lots of old signals (I've noticed northern Alabama is somewhat newer). Take, for instance, the barely visible green in Atmore.

[plain]

Some old 12-8-8 and 12-8-8-12 signals in Sandston, VA (near RIC airport). I'm surprised they're still there especially given the fact that this intersection is VDOT-maintained. The 8 inch aspect of these signals still has the old bulbs instead of LED's

Image from GSV

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rXGMmL5fEae6mEXT7

[mrsman]

Some old 12-8-8 and 12-8-8-12 signals in Sandston, VA (near RIC airport). I'm surprised they're still there especially given the fact that this intersection is VDOT-maintained. The 8 inch aspect of these signals still has the old bulbs instead of LED's

Image from GSV

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rXGMmL5fEae6mEXT7

Could you try posting again?  All I got when I clicked was the map, not knowing which intersection to GSV.

[STLmapboy]

Some old 12-8-8 and 12-8-8-12 signals in Sandston, VA (near RIC airport). I'm surprised they're still there especially given the fact that this intersection is VDOT-maintained. The 8 inch aspect of these signals still has the old bulbs instead of LED's

Image from GSV

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rXGMmL5fEae6mEXT7

Could you try posting again?  All I got when I clicked was the map, not knowing which intersection to GSV.

Yeah I landed in Republic, MO, near Springfield

[plain]

Some old 12-8-8 and 12-8-8-12 signals in Sandston, VA (near RIC airport). I'm surprised they're still there especially given the fact that this intersection is VDOT-maintained. The 8 inch aspect of these signals still has the old bulbs instead of LED's

Image from GSV

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rXGMmL5fEae6mEXT7

Could you try posting again?  All I got when I clicked was the map, not knowing which intersection to GSV.

Yeah I landed in Republic, MO, near Springfield

Apologies, ever since I updated GM on my phone (shouldn't have done that) it's been retarded. I'll try the link inside Street View, though it may initially point to the ground.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/mKzp5N3qjoddER2eA

[STLmapboy]

Some old 12-8-8 and 12-8-8-12 signals in Sandston, VA (near RIC airport). I'm surprised they're still there especially given the fact that this intersection is VDOT-maintained. The 8 inch aspect of these signals still has the old bulbs instead of LED's

Image from GSV

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rXGMmL5fEae6mEXT7

Could you try posting again?  All I got when I clicked was the map, not knowing which intersection to GSV.

Yeah I landed in Republic, MO, near Springfield

Apologies, ever since I updated GM on my phone (shouldn't have done that) it's been retarded. I'll try the link inside Street View, though it may initially point to the ground.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/mKzp5N3qjoddER2eA

Ah, thanks.
Check this out in Paris (KY).

[TonyTrafficLight]

Still a few goodies left in Utica, NY. There were so many more up until a few years ago.
Lucky to get a few of them added to my collection. The rest went POOF