Old Time Signals

[slimjim]

Hi All,

I received this e-mail and want to help him. Does alyone have any links or info??

In the old times there was in Brazil a system of controlling the the traffic of trains between two stations called "electric staff". By the system a train only could leave the station "A" after receiving the "staff" (a bar of metal that was taken from a device) after the next station "B" had unlocked it by an electric current. Was there a similar device in your country? If so, could you tell me where can I get a photo of the device and details about how it worked?

[BoxcabE50]

Jim-

I know that the Milwaukee Road used a Staff Signal setup in a couple of places on their system out west. This was during early years. One was at their St.Paul Pass tunnel through the Bitteroot Mountains between Idaho & Montana. (You literally entered the tunnel in one state, and emerged in the other state.)

Unfortunately, I know little about the equipment. What photos I have seen from nearly 100 years ago, are very fuzzy. It's hard to tell. There is a small platform with the something on it. But was a manual staff? Or ?

This is an interesting question! I'd like to know more!

:D

BoxcabE50

[John Whitby]

Jim,
The electric staff method of controlling trains on single track routes was very common in the U.K. Please take a look at this site and follow the links Bluebell Railway Signalling (http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/signals.html) The "Bluebell Railway" is a museum railway in south-east England. Hope this helps.
John

[slimjim]

Very interesting John. I passed the URL along. Thanks.