"New" CPLs at Roanoke

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

If I may put in my 2 cents worth here;
 
First of all I am thrilled that NS did indeed install CPL's at this location.  I was certain that they would be the Safetran three light model they've put up everywhere else.  
 
Now, as to why?  Who knows.  It could be a cost factor, since NS is putting absolutely nothing into their signal budget, and the new signals are terribly expensive.  I do believe its cheaper to refurbish a signal arm than to buy a new one.
 
I do not believe these signal arms would be "new" however.  If so, they would be Safetran's horrid looking copy of a CPL, not a US&S unit.  They went out of production years ago, and were made from cast iron, black pipe, and had a galvanized target face.  Point being, they are HEAVY!  The safetran CPL's are aluminum, and flat across the back of the target face.  The reason for that is US&S had a patent on that spider frame design, and probably still does, (but I don't know for sure).
 
Anyway, the next time I'm in Roanoke I'll photograph and investigate this new installation.
 
Ben Blevins
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org wrote:
Galen,

They are not the original signals that were on the 1st Street Bridge. The 
original signals stayed on the bridge while the new ones were being 
assembled on the ground before lifting into their final position about 3 
weeks ago. The new signals are either new or refurbished from somewhere else.

The 1st Street Bridge will be undergoing renovation and a few of us are 
speculating that NS just wanted to move the signals out of harms way. It 
would be nice to hear why CPLs instead of "stoplight" (Southern) style 
signals were used.

Ron Davis


At 01:48 AM 4/14/2005, you wrote:
>Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 21:57:33 -0400
>From: "Galen Wright" 
>Subject: N&W CPL Observation
>
>While in Roanoke yesterday I noticed something that I
>thought wasn't a big deal, but evidently it is very
>interesting. Just west of the N&W passenger station
>is a road bridge that has been closed for some time.
>There was a set of N&W CPLs mounted to the bridge for
>westbound movements on two tracks. I noticed that a
>new signal bridge has been erected just east of the
>road bridge. The bridge is of the same cylindrical
>pipe construction as many new signal bridges are on NS
>now. However, instead of installing southern style
>signals on the bridge, it has "new" color position
>lights. I don't know if these were the same signal
>heads that were originally on the road bridge or if
>they were new. But, they evidently had been painted
>and cleaned up nice. It is a little odd
>seeing the CPL signals on the new modern signal
>bridge.
>
>Galen A. Wright
>k4cno at verizon.net
>Amherst, Virginia
>
>
>April 14, 2005
>
>Good morning, Galen:
>
>If anyone looks more closely at this signal bridge, it
>would be interesting to know if the signal heads are
>refurbished Union Switch and Signal equipment or if it
>is something newer.
>
>Good night and good morning,
>
>Frank
>
>
>Dr. Frank R. Scheer, Curator
>Railway Mail Service Library, Inc.
>f_scheer at yahoo.com
>(202) 268-2121 - weekday office
>(540) 837-9090 - weekend afternoons
>in the former N&W station on VA rte 723
>117 East Main Street
>Boyce VA 22620-9639
>
>Visit at http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org
>
>
>
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