Hello! Not sure it's right place to post my question, but. Some time ago, in our local russian railroad community, we started discussion, related to early electrical signals. And one user has posted strange photo, scanned from book about high speed trains in Russia (attached). Description in russian - "Early electrical signal and block-post. Leningrad railway junction. 192x" I think, this description is wrong. I know, some signals was imported from US for tests. But this type of signals was never widely used on russian railways, only for experiment and tests. This building have unusual architecture style. I live in Saint-Petersburg (Leningrad) but I have never seen similar buildings in real or at archive photos. I think this photo was taken in US. So, maybe someone saw this photo before? And know where is it was taken? With best regards, Vasily
I searched the internet for that photo and only came up with the exact same photo on Russian web sites. Many times the search will find similar photos of similar subjects. The building does look similar to railroad interlocker towers in the north east United States. https://www.google.com/search?tbs=s...yEa2j2mFLfCHubhYQVJjscRfew4EiJ9KigqiYOoJWyL6A
Vasily, the signal style was used by the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania railroads. That does not define where the photo was taken, only an attempt to narrow the search for an answer.
Those two are the same companies which immediately come into my mind. They are the only operations I can bring into mind using positional color light signals. The tower itself is rather fancy for brick work.
I believe the N&W also used them. They were under the influence of the Pennsylvania in some practices. There is a cool interactive display along the tracks by the Museum of Transportation in Roanoke that lights up the different colors when you press different buttons. I don't have a photo of the lights but I seem to remember them being the same.
It is quite a puzzle, isn't it? I tried some internet sleuthing and came up empty - the brick work in that tower is very unique and I thought for sure I could find other examples like it which would tell us who (perhaps) built it, what region, when and all that, but I couldn't find another like it. Then to add to confusion, have you guys zoomed in on the horizon to the left of the signal? Does that look like a dome (or two?) Just to mess with you, compare that to this skyline: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/images/virtual-tour/gostiny-dvor-in-st-petersburg.jpg A couple of other observations, the houses look like something you'd find in America, although Vasily can speak to whether Russian examples exist as well. The windows on the 2nd floor of the tower... aren't most windows in the US "hung" where you'd slide the window up/down to open/close it rather than swing out like in the picture? See? Strange indeed! lol Best, -Mike
I can't get my photo software to focus well enough to see much on the horizon. That tower is what I'd question. I wonder if there is a Russian site which would have older structure pictures from around Leningrad/St. Petersburg?
Now if I use my "CSI Photo Enhancement" software (as seen on TV so we know it must be true) it looks like the railroad gauge is about 5 feet between rails. Kind of broad for North America these days.
I've done a bunch of searching for eastern US railroad towers. As yet not finding anything which would come close to matching. Everything has a different style roof, overhanging eaves, leverman's bay, etc. Sad thing is if this was dated 1920's Leningrad, it could very well have been destroyed during the Second World War.
Ah ha! Check out this beauty in Terra Alta, WV: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1077811 Closing in.... -Mike
Same brick work for sure. Roof is different and door seems to be on the other side but very close indeed.
This is fun. This one isn't it, but it has the same styling and here the upper windows match as well. Note also the telegraph poles. Full size image: http://columbusrailroads.com/photogallery/PRR-c&n-157-CLMB.jpg Page with caption: http://columbusrailroads.com/prr C&N.htm That's Heath tower in Ohio, photographed in 1955. Regards, Rob.
Interesting. Excepting the roof, there certainly is similarity. That should be a former B&O location. There are plenty of B&O fans and a solid historical society, so perhaps... I have a friend who is a BIG B&O fan. Perhaps he'd have an idea.
The CA tower in Terra Alta has since been demolished. The mystery tower in the picture does look strikingly similar. I would venture that the tower in the mysterious picture may possibly still be under construction, without it's peaked roof put on yet. The bricklaying pattern and architectural style is so remarkably similar to the CA tower, they could have been built by the same company and around the same time. If we could find out when and who built the CA tower we may be able to track down other towers built around the same time in the same area.
Going to make a wild and maybe outlandish statement. But I would suggest that we (The United States) sent many of our railway workers to Russia and other parts of the world after the devastation of WW 1. To help rebuild their railway system. This might just be American influence in Russia at that time. IDK. Like I said maybe a very crazy thought. Looked a bit on the Internet and found several books but are only available at the main Los Angeles city library. Next time I am up that way I will go see what they say on the subject. Also looking at the photo background it does look like a typical Russian Onion Dome on top of the buildings. Bryan
