Western Maryland ?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

i am trying to get some info on western maryland signals for my MR club… did they use signals…and if they did…what type of signal did they use (CPLs…serchlight and or other type)…and are thier any know pics of them on the net that i can print out for a refrence…
thanks
csx engineer

2

I have no idea, Model Railroader lists a Western Maryland Railway Historical Society.

http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/000/423idbsl.asp
Western Maryland Railway
Western Maryland Railway Historical Society
P. O. Box 395
Union Bridge, MD 21791
http://www.trainweb.com/mvmra/wmrhs.htm

The address MR has appears to be old. I think the new one is at the following.
http://www.moosevalley.org/wmrhs/wmrhsindex.htm

Also, WM is now part of CSX, if CSX has some sort of archives, maybe you could find something in there. Or, maybe you could find someone who works on the signals that has been around long enough to have worked on the WM (the ICC approved B&O/C&O control of it in 1967 http://www.csxt.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=history.heritage). Of course these might get you labeled as a foamer.

CSX has no web page listed for the historical society.
http://www.csxt.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=history.societies

3

thanks for what little bit you where able to give me…i did find 2 pics from one of the sights that you listed that shows a signal… that is a good starting point…
csx engineer

4

The 1956 WM rule book shows upper quadrant semaphores.

Dave H.

5

I have traced some sections of the former WM (now Maryland Midland) over the past two years and they did/still do have lineside signals. I have not seen any semaphores or cantilever signals. If you send me an email msg I can respond with some jpeg pics.

MP

6

WM used three light signals with an oval background. I’m not sure if they were US&S or GRS but for model purposes they look about the same.

7

Western Maryland operated various lines with different systems. Some CTC some block signals and some train order. What era and territory would you like to model? Steam or diesel era, Coal producing lines or overhead traffic lines?
tom

8

my email address is
sextravaganza1@att.net
csx engineer

9

as far as what type of territory we are modeling…its just a very very very loose baices of the B&O and the WM in the mountins…the time eara is also basicly being set back in the late 50s and early 60s… but we anything and eveything…steam and todays power… but we are trying to put a signal system in that is somewhat prototype to the roads that we are modeling…
csx engineer

10

[:)]
Check your email…tom

11

i got them…thanks…
csx engineer

12

I sent off a couple pics also (a bit fuzzy but they should work). For grade crossings without flashers or gates, WM used cast iron crossbucks on ‘rail’ posts. I have a copy of that too if you are interested…
MP

13

The =WM= used US&S model R-2 three-color signals for its automatic block and interlocking signals (both oval-headed targets). The road used Eagle Signal Corporation signals (also three-color) for its Train Order signals. These targets were rectangular in shape.

14

Here is a WM signal item: https://www.jonroma.net/media/signaling/railway-signaling/1945/Signal%20Training%20on%20the%20Western%20Maryland.pdf

Also, I don’t know if P&WV used the same signal heads as WM, but if so this article could be of help: https://www.jonroma.net/media/signaling/railway-signaling/1951/P%26WV%20Signals%20Entire%20Main%20Line.pdf

15

This has to be the mother of all zombie threads. But it’s fun to learn more!