A Primitive Signal
Written by Laurence
Johnson
It only took me an hour to
build this wooden signal: do you have a siding that goes around a bend and you
cannot see its end from the switch you must throw to go there? This is a real
question for my home track and might be for where you are railroading also.
Some time ago I ran across an article and photo describing the same
situation on a 1920s short line railroad and this was their solution: on a
wooden pole, beside the track the switchman pulled the rope that swing a red
wooden arrow out into a horizontal direction and tied the end of the rope to a
nail. Everyone on the line knew that this would mean someone was at the end of
the siding and no one should come in and trap ‘em.
I cut a green treated 2 x 4 x 8’ down to 1½" x 2½" x 7’ and then cut a slot
with the band saw (a sabre saw can be used as well) in the wide side at 1¼" x
10" and then bored a hole at the top in the narrow side.
Next I pulled a 1 x 6 green treated board from my scrap box and marked out
the flag for shape and drilling. I drilled the hole first, not wanting to have
problems with splitting, and then cut its profile.
Rather than using a wood rasp, I elected to knock off the sharp edges with
my router and edging tool. Makes thing look "professional."
Bolted the flag into the upright, threaded a hank of rope through the hole,
tied a figure eight knot to keep if from pulling through and then tied a loop
in the other end so it could be attached around the nail. Everything works. A
quick coat of red paint and this job is finished.
It is 20 degrees outside and the ground is froze; this post will be planted
three feet down next spring giving a needed addition to my home track. How
about yours?
Written by Laurence
Johnson
HEY, Check out Laurence
Johnson's CDs filled with cool blueprints:
CAD Drawings for the Live Steam Hobby
vol. 1
CAD Drawings for
the Live Steam Hobby vol. 2
Editors Note: Information contained in this
article is for reference only.
We at discoverlivesteam.com and our authors are not responsible for any loss
that might occur from the practical application of ideas presented here. |
