Signal Tours
of Ohio, Refuge of the Four Way Signal
A few notable signals spotted throughout
the state.
2006 Photos were taken with a Kodak CX6330
2007-8 Photos were taken with a Canon S3 IS
All photos are taken at full resolution before cropping and downsizing
for viewing.
Johnstown (2007)
Main street is a true haven for Crouse fanatics. Six separate, well preserved Type D's(?) hang above main street. Most of the lenses are original
smiley's, and all signals appear to have an original(?), alternate Marbelite-style flat bottom
plate. Also in town square is a giant clock.
Newark (2007)
In southwestern Newark hangs this odd mix-match 4-way cluster controlling alley traffic across a small, but busy, secondary street. A lettered door DT(? ) is a ghostly white, long since faded from it's sloppy yellow overcoat. Its partner on the line is a traditional yellow cast-visor Eagle (Eaglux?) 4-way with an internal controller. Both signals have since been retrofitted with led-lenses, giving these classics an odd, bug-eyed look. All four sides of these lights are populated, despite one side facing the wrong end of a one-way alley. A broken down Marbelite mechanical flasher cabinet controls both signals. These signals flash quickly, closer to a 1/4 sec. than a typical 1/2 sec. rate and very dimly on a gloomy day, possibly completely invisible on a sunny day.
Washington Court House (2007)
There are several Eagle 4-ways in the western old-downtown portion of the city. They are in good condition, and not much more needs to be said about them.
In between these pairs, this old street controller box and likely
reproduction streetsigns caught our attention.
Several residential streets nearby have overhead lights in addition to stop signs. Here we see several more
examples.
A CH?
...or an Eagle Beacon with CH Plates.
A Type D(?) CH Beacon.
Respite with Eagles, WCH seems to have a case of Marbelite envy, if this poly Alusig is any indication. Taking a poor attempt at a Tunnaway visor, some hapless signal tech took his trusty sawzall to a tunnel visor and created this piece of art.
Far from old, but interesting is the "new regulation" Railroad Crossing cross bucks. An
unsignalled crossing, these railroad signs have eschewed the traditional black on white scheme for a red on white scheme to emphasize the danger of the crossing and a need to stop and check before zooming through the (non-existent) gates.
Apple Creek (2007 One Last Time):
One more time through the city, and finally some decent weather to accommodate
photography. The signals still are dark but utility work nearby brings
hope to these fallen vetrans.
Delta (2007)
In a surprisingly busy area, a large and quiet town of Delta hides six
Crouse-Hinds Type-M 3-ways. Thanks to some odd street layouts in
the higher traffic areas, the traditional 4-way has a blank side on
each. [Photos were taken on a dark, rainy afternoon and are not up to
the usual standards of this site.]
Mineral City (2007)
A tiny little town with a classic Marbelite 4-way in the cluster. This is
a bit of a patchwork signal; the loss of a Tunnaway visor is tempered by the
addition of an unpainted Command lens.
Malvern (2007)
Along the highway an unassuming Marbelite 4-way shares a spanwire with a modern
poly Type-R style signal. In the distance, a vintage defense siren stands
tall.
Carrollton (2007)
In the town of Carrollton stands a Marbelite with the classic Tunnaway visor on
a span of poly T-Cons. Unassuming at first, this intersection harbors a
trap. Chinese arrows have replaced the greens in the Marbelite. For
the one-way crossstreet, a <-> arrow is used with little problem.
Through traffic, however, receives both a Green Ahead and Left arrow for both
directions at the same time. Perhaps this unfortunate reuse of
vintage hardware explains the bullets this signal has taken in the line of duty.
Various Places (2007)
This is a very modern signal, but worth photographing. It's a
12" LED signal, freshly installed. What is interesting is the newer
style of backplate being used, it is both louvered for reducing wind
loads, and outlined in a high-visibility tape to make spotting the
signal easier. It just looks very Eurpoean.
Lewisburg (2007)
The only light "in-town" is this Type-M wig-wag unit. Fairly well
preserved, save for one missing visor, it has the later model Type-R
rebent-tab visors installed.
Brookville (2007)
A beautiful, if sleepy ghost town that has several lights entering town, but
none actually in-town. This is the only classic left, a TSI or Sargent-Sowell,
hanging at the three-road intersection of a drugstore/supermarket
mini-mall. Note the double exposure in the third pic. These have not
received LED retrofits.
Coshocton (2007)
Hanging at the intersection of a former firehouse turned commercial
enterprise is this solitary CH Type-D. Fairly well preserved, this
Type D has the cast-visors on the doors as well as some Smiley lenses
left.
Another interesting intersection is this
one dominated by a GE Streamline Cluster apparently sporting original
mounting hardware. Note the intentional use of visors turned
crooked to block the side view, a cheap imitation of tunnel visors for
this angled intersection.
New Philadelphia and Surrounding Communities (2007)
Just off of Downtown N.P. is several beautiful sets of lights scattered
throughout many quiet, semi-residential intersections. First, we see this
beautiful example of a CH D or DT 4-way stop beacon, still equipped with Smiley
lenses. Note the big bottom on this girl...if called upon this light could
have been equipped with a bottom door for a clear, intersection-illuminating
lens. At the same intersection, a very old fire plug was also captured in
the rough. Much too many layers of paint fully obscured the actual date.
Another, uniquely shaped, intersection held the
true surprise. A nearly complete set of CH portholes with command lenses,
marred only by one lens having been replaced with a Darley lens. Also,
hanging not more than 20 feet away at a side intersection was a cast-door pair
of CH decos on their original Octagonal hardware.
The local fairgrounds held quite a treat for the
urban archaeologists. A veritable cornucopia of signal delights held high
over an offset, diagonally intersecting set of streets. A beautiful pair
of GE Streamlines holds guard over fairground traffic, linked to a modern loop
detection system, only activating upon vehicle presence. TSI, Marbelite,
8", 12", Vertical Logo, Horizontal Logo, Tunnaway Visors, Left 45°
Arrows, 8-12-12, 8-8-8-12's, it is probably easier to list what isn't here than
what is hung.
At the highway exit to a local racetrack hangs an
interesting pairing of a Crouse D 4-way and a Sargent-Sowell 4-way. Save
for a green to yellow paintjob on the SS, along with the requisite bottom damage
the pair hang high and mighty over the intersection, driven by a mechanical
controller. The lenses are an odd mismatch of "whatever is in the
shop", the only detraction from a well hung pair.
Here is an earlier inset-door Marbelite, well
preserved with a beautiful set of "tunnaway" visors hanging over the
entrance to a deserted factory accompanied by a tattered pair of Crouse-Hinds
Type R's. Configured as a 4-way, only three sides are lit, two to stop
main street traffic, and one to let the factory drivers know the road is clear
to enter. Apart from some replacement lenses, and questionable spanwire
electrical contacting, this signal is an excellent specimen save for the bottom
plate damage, likely caused by its relatively low hung height. Note, there was no olive green
signal, that was just an artistic take on the same yellow signal as in the other
images.
Apple Creek (2007 Update):
Passing through this town again, nothing has changed. The lights still
aren't on, and the intersection still is the same. More photos were taken,
this time on a grey, rainy day. The hanging beacon is quite visible and
appears to have had a long-gone buddy on the spanwire.
Milan (2006):
Out in front of the firehouse is one of the few signals the
village has. A beautiful Crouse-Hinds Type-M beacon, it is kept off
except for the occasional fire run, at which point it would turn red in
all directions to halt traffic.
Apple Creek (2006):
As noted by Jay, Just south of Wooster as US-250 enters the sleepy hamlet of Apple Creek from the north
it makes an abrupt 45° bank when it encounters CR-44. At this point,
almost unnoticed is a set of flashing Darley-Simplex heads at ground height (5')
and a lone Darley 4-way hanging high above the intersection. Still in good
condition some were left silver and some were painted in the popular
Yellow/Black Ohio colorscheme.
Tipp City (2007 Update):
Although late in the evening and in poor lighting the couple mile drive was well
worth an opportunity to check up on the four. Everything is pretty much
unchanged and still operational. The Eagle was shot from the backside this
time, showing the bottom plate and visor damage. One of the late-model TSI
style units has a blown green bulb presenting the rare opportunity for this
unique shot.
Tipp City (2006):
Alerted to their presence by fellow Signalfan Olde Timer John I
made a pass down mainstreet to see the four-ways. I approached the first
intersection, saw the two Southern Autoflow's, got out, walked around, and took
a few pictures figuring that was it. Driving the next blocks I was greeted
with new hardware and new installations. Much to my surprise when I passed
under ANOTHER set of 4-ways AND a Crouse-Hinds Electromechanical
controller. This set was even better than the first. A freshly
painted Southern Autoflow, and an Eagle "Pagoda" style light.
The video following the pictures is of the Eagle running a full cycle.
Apologies if the video is slow, it is hosted by youtube and not on TSS servers.
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