Old Traffic Signals

[Ian]

Here are a few old ones around Washington, D.C...














Also, for the DC guys on here, were the signals around the district originally yellow? I recall seeing a few older signals fading to yellow (for example, the pedestrian signal in the 2nd photo) and was wondering. Plus looking closely at the older signals, I saw paint that doesn't look original.

[Stephane Dumas]

There are still a number of wigwags clustered here and there in Wisconsin.  All of the following still stand:

Plymouth (Elizabeth St.)
Plymouth (Milwaukee St.)
Sheboygan (Martin Ave.)
Sheboygan (Saemann Ave.)

Sadly, this is a fraction of the number of signals that existed in northeast Wisconsin just a decade ago.

Speaking of wigwag signal, here the only remaining wigwag in Canada in Tilbury, Ontario near Windsor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xBdep4yRzo

[Brandon]

McDonough St and Joyce Rd, Joliet, IL:



Yes, it is a permanent wire span installation in Illinois; it is maintained by Will County (which typically uses the standard monotube poles).  The signal on the right used to host a 3M directional signal at the bottom for right turning traffic.

55th St and Cass Ave, Westmont, IL:



Classic Illinois truss with no backplate on the signals; maintained by DuPage County.

[jjakucyk]

*Gasp* a permanent span wire in Illinois (that's not holding just a flashing beacon)!?!?!  Yay for the truss though. 

[OracleUsr]

Does DC still have the flashing "WALK" signals?

[D-Dey65]

See this?


It's on Brittle Road in Northern Hernando County Florida, for a recently abandoned mining road owned by Florida Rock Industries.

[Ian]

Does DC still have the flashing "WALK" signals?

Most of the pedestrian signals in DC are now LED hand/man countdown signals, so unfortunately, I don't think there are any left.

[D-Dey65]

Here are a few old ones around Washington, D.C...

(Images not related to this reply removed)
Patchogue, New York used to have signals like this at the intersection of West/East Main Street and North/South Ocean Avenue, except that it was elongated, and hung from a wire over the street along with the other normal signals. They were taken down in 1986, and replaced by No Left Turn signs.

[Ian]

^ That would be neat if you could find a photo of the Patchogue signal.

Ancient Eagle flatback on the far left while the rest are Eagle Mark IV replacements of the Eagle flatbacks (same 12-8-8 inch variety, even a 12-8-8-8-8 doghouse signal!). This is along US 13 northbound at DE 299 in Odessa, DE:


3M signals along DE 7 at DE 71 in Bear, DE:

[D-Dey65]

^ That would be neat if you could find a photo of the Patchogue signal.

You have no idea how sorry I am that I can't. It was originally green like every other signal in New York State, but once NY 27A was decommissioned it was painted yellow like every non-State route signal.

[Ian]

^ That would be neat if you could find a photo of the Patchogue signal.

You have no idea how sorry I am that I can't. It was originally green like every other signal in New York State, but once NY 27A was decommissioned it was painted yellow like every non-State route signal.

Wait, so they completely repainted the signal just because the route it was on was decomissioned? That seems a little silly.

[Alps]

^ That would be neat if you could find a photo of the Patchogue signal.

You have no idea how sorry I am that I can't. It was originally green like every other signal in New York State, but once NY 27A was decommissioned it was painted yellow like every non-State route signal.

Wait, so they completely repainted the signal just because the route it was on was decomissioned? That seems a little silly.

I'd assume it was later repainted as part of a needed paint job vs. capricious repainting for the sake of yellowness.

[Alex]

Found this 1954 photo worth sharing on the Vintage Seattle blog.

[Ian]

A few really old ones in my area...

[chesko]

Hey gang,

I used to have a boatload of pictures from NJ; many of my own, as well as many from various internet sources.  Long story; I lost most of the files and I am trying to recollect and restore what I can.  Here is a sample of what I currently have (all pics taken by me except where noted)...ENJOY!

Newark solid cast GE Novalux, taken in 2003, signal replaced by 2005:




Old Marbelite with even older GO lens, Glen Rock.  Signal now replaced:


Stamped aluminum GE in Ridgewood,shortly before being repainted yellow and fitted with LEDs:


Stamped aluminum GE in Chatham (with old Marbelite on side):


Crouse-Hinds art deco crosswalk in Bloomfield (with newer ped signal):



Crouse-Hinds assembly in Bloomfield (pic by Cris McNally):


Crouse-Hinds crosswalk caution beacon in Nutley:


4-way American Gas Accumulator signal in Union City (since retrofitted with LEDs):


Solid-cast Horni signal in Union:


1950's GE with finial in front of much older gas lamp, South Orange:


Fiber-Optic pedestrian signal in East Orange (Chris McNally):

[froggie]

Does DC still have the flashing "WALK" signals?

There's still a few isolated WALK/DON'T WALK (text, not symbol) signals scattered around DC.  Whether any of those particular installations flashes the WALK, I couldn't say.

[florida]

These used to hang behind what is now the Amway Center (in Orlando) on Division Avenue.

[Ian]

Sorry for bringing back an old topic, but I got to uploading a few photos of some abandoned Crouse Hinds signals at the Philadelphia Naval Base. Here is the Flickr album:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iccdude/sets/72157626035479232/

[US71]

I never got photos and they seem to be long gone, but Blue Island IL used to have School Crosswalk signals that were post mounted.

I can still see them in my mind's eye, but have no way to transfer that image into a real photograph

[MDOTFanFB]

Here's an old one near my house:



And the closeups...




These particular ones are Type R's which were manufactured by Crouse Hinds sometime in the 70's or 80's. The vehicle lights are 8 inch, the pedestrian lights are 9 inch. All are yellow.

Now for a more modern example, here is a set that recently has been knocked down by some crazy driver  



Despite that, this is a typical Metro Detroit span wire set. Not sure about other parts of MI though. The signals here are manufactured by Eagle Durasig. These are 12-inch vehicle lights and are yellow, also at that intersection are 12-inch pedestrian lights which are black and also manufactured by Eagle Durasig. Around here, the newer pedestrian lights (black) have symbols, the older ones (yellow) are worded. I think these were installed in the late 80's or early 90's.

[US71]

Canton, MS March 2010. Probably gone, now



Clarksville, AR

[MDOTFanFB]

Here's some I photographed this weekend:




Reduced size. You gotta take better photos to post them up so large.

[hobsini2]

I am really saddened by Illinois going away from the classic truss arm.  It's one of the things i like about traveling is seeing state unique signals.  Thank god Wisconsin still uses the "trumbone" but recently when i was up in Beloit, WI i saw a new signal on WI 81 just west of I-39/90 that uses the newer Illinois sytle.  blah!

[MDOTFanFB]

Another new photo:

[PAHighways]

As of tonight, this installation's and this installation's days are numbered.