Well alright three questions actualy, all regarding semaphore signals.
What did the different blades indicate? I’ve seen them with a red blade witha a squard end and a white stripe, red with a round end and a white stripe, yellow with a triangular notch in the end and a black stripe and yellow wih a black stripe with a pointed end. I assume each had a different meaning.
Also, were the Pennsylvania and Long Island railroad’s position-light signals dervived from semaphores? The aspects of the position light signals mean the same things as the position of a semaphore blade (vertical + go, diagonal = procede with caution, horizontal = stop).
Any railroads still use semaphores other than museums or preserved lines or have the gone the way of the 45-rpm record and 5 1.4" floppy disk?
I’m no expert on semaphores, but I’ll offer this - they differed from road to road, just signals do (to a certain extent, anyhow) today.
On masts with several blades, the shape of the blade often indicated its meaning - home, distant, etc.
As to color, that varied by RR, and you also have to consider that the train order signals at stations were semaphores as well, and not to be confused with lineside signals.
Some railroads prefered an “upper quadrant” semaphore (blade pointing up is “clear”), some preferred a lower quadrant (although the “clear” aspect usually involved the blade pointing something less than straight down).
While train order signals at stations often had three aspects (no orders, pick up orders on the fly, stop and sign for orders), methinks that lineside signals used two blades to show multiple aspects. I could be wrong, and will gladly accept corrections!
I think there are still a few semaphores on active rail lines, but they are disappearing rapidly. I have no idea of exact locations, but I think there is a website or two dedicated to the topic.
Semaphores with multiple heads to show additional aspects were not uncommon. The semaphores at Joliet Union Depot had multiple heads. As a general rule of thumb, square-ended blades were home signals, pointed ends were for distant signals.
The position light signals on PRR, N&W, LV and LIRR were patterned after semaphores.
If I remember A red blade with white stripe and square end is a home signal the back side was white with black stripe so you knew if you saw red it was yours
red with a square end were intermediate signals
yellow with fishtails were distant signals
red with round ends were generaly used for train order signals
this may varry by RR, but was generals accepted practice
Some recent information, as of last year, re: lower quadrant semaphores and searchlight indications (during a SP signal transition phase 1960.) http://sptco.tnorr.com/SP_Rules-and Regs/Rules_1960. Explains aspects of Rules 281-290 and searchlight aspects specific to SP as of 1983.
A recently removed (fall 2006 IIRC) set of lower quadrant semaphores on CORP while they were still operational. A Mtce trip with a signalman. Really interesting for mechanical operation of lower Quad semaphores. http://alpharail.net/corp/signals/sigmaint
BNSF used semaphores on Raton Pass for many years, then it sold the line to the state for commuter service, and I beleive they are taking the “blades” down.[:(]