I'm looking for a guidebook, website or other reference source that interprets and describes the uses and functions of the multitude of trackside railroad symbols, signs, etc. commonly found on the prototype across the U.S. What do you recommend? Thanks.
Are you looking for 'free' or 'buy it now'? This might be a place to start... https://www.google.com/search?q=gui...WICjQIHW2UA2YQ_AUoAnoECAwQBA&biw=1280&bih=551 Sumner
Sumner, If one were looking just for pretty photos of signals with little or no context (99% of that link's content), then sure. I'm hoping to find a comprehensive compendium of trackside symbols with definitions and functions of each, if such a thing even exists.
Did you follow any of the links by clicking on some of the pictures? The first three are books on the subject and further down I clicked on another and came up with this... https://railroadsignals.us/basics/basics1.htm Looks like it might cover some of what you are looking for. Hopefully someone else will list some sources they recommend, Sumner
Sorry, just trying to help and saw the (etc.) in the original post. On the same site I referenced above... https://railroadsignals.us/other/signs/index.htm Sumner
My suggestion would be to contact the AAR (American Association of Railroads.) (Or peruse their web site.) In the past they had publications for the general public, about various aspects of railroading. In the past and present, there have been examples such as the CCOR (Consolidated Code of Operating Rules); UCOR (Uniform Code of Operating Rules); GCOR (General Code of Operating Rules). They were issued usually covering groupings of railroads. Signals and their various aspects were/are shown in these. Can often be found at swap meets were there are railroadiana sellers. Larger individual railroads also used to have for their company's use "sign standards" books. These covered everything from station signs, mileposts, on through what they used for road crossings and much more. Sizes, lettering styles, where and how they were to be installed. These don't show up as often. If you have a specific railroad in mind, you could try contacting their historical society or fan group.
Is this for a modeling project, photography, etc? If you are doing historical research on a particular railroad, you may be able to find a standards guidebook or something like that. I do not know of a 'field guide' type of book to identify things while railfanning.
By no means should this post be considered expert, but here's a photo of a bunch of signs. Soo Tower, Minot, ND. BNSF Glasgow Sub and CP Portal Sub cross here at grade. There's numerous shunt signs, which I guess is for signal operations. Beyond the diagonal main track are crossovers and an interchange track. There are whistle posts, which are sublettered with "quiet zone" signs as Minot has a few BNSF grade crossings protected with gates and anti-drive around installations to minimize whistle noise; the "2" probably indicates there are 2 crossings in close succession. There's a milepost on an overpass, a time zone and location sign and one I cannot quite make out on a switch heater. Here's a derail, with the installed apparatus: A flanger sign (lift flanger blade to clear obstruction in the gauge--crossings, switches, tunnels, etc) and a milepost:
I am indeed looking for a comprehensive "field guide" for my transition era GN layout, if such exists. Two books - "Rights of Trains" and "The Consolidated Code of Operating Rules" - were recommened by a retired engineer, but they're both almost exclusively text with few, if any, graphics of static trackside signs. I'm not interested in operating signals; signs only. I've contacted the GNRHS, though I doubt it has what I'm looking for in any quantity or variety.
The "Rights of Trains" book (Peter Josserand) would likely not be helpful. It deals more with operations. If interested in dispatching, operators, train orders, then it would be good.
Knowing the Great Northern narrows it down pretty well. What about something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Railroad-Standard-Diagram-CD-ROM/dp/B0049Y80TG I just found this on Amazon. It's in a disk format, but it is a standards book. Not only does it have pictures, it gives dimensions and instructions, allowing you to replicate them on a layout. One of the page previews shows three different signs, their names, and a written discription of them. I'm assuming there will be more pages showing other types of signs and equipment used along the tracks too. While you may not want this exact product, this is what I was thinking of. These old documents would be the type of thing I would be interested in seeing. I am not a huge collector of railroadiana, but I have a BN MOW book that explains different procudures and operations. It has a lot of mundane information, but its good to go directly to the source. If you use what the railroad used themselves, you can be assured that the information is correct.
What I think you REALLY want is the GN Railway Historical Society Reference Sheet. Jun-1980 Ref. 54 Great Northern Standard Signs: Part 1 Mar-1981 Ref. 60 Great Northern Standard Signs: Part II Jun-1982 Ref. 70 Great Northern Standard Signs: Part III Mar-1990 Ref. 160 Great Northern Standard Signs: Part IV Mar-1992 Ref 187 Great Northern Standard Signs Part V I'm guessing due to the pandemic, the store is closed for now. http://www.gnrhs.org/store/product-list.php?pg1-cid22.html
So I've since learned from a couple of sellers. I guess even loco engineers get it wrong sometimes! It's color photos or drawings with concise descriptions of the functions and placement of all the various signs (for whatever purpose) in use mid-20th century that I'm after. Does such a publication even exist?
Trainiac, This is likely the exact kind of resource I'm after. It may not have all signs used on the line, but it's by far the closest I've seen to-date. Many thanks! Do you know if it's available - or even still exists - in print form?
If not from an organization such as the AAR, I doubt it. I don't believe either the FRA or STB would have anything for public consumption, but you might ask....
You are probably only going to find it on eBay or maybe at a train show. Unless a publisher is making reproductions, those manuals probably haven't been printed since the Great Northern merged into BN. It looks like this PDF package is produced by Railfan Depot. They have an eBay store too. Their website says it was scanned from an original copy, so they have to exist somewhere. Maybe a local museum or archive library has one.
I have a couple of company Sign Standards books for the Milwaukee Road. Scanned one of them, (from 1958), a year or so back, but just have not the time to edit all the (nearly 60) pages for uploading to my web site.
