Welp, For about a month now, two semaphore signals - 90 years old, have been sitting up in north Georgia. Been scraping and painting them back to their original color scheme. Been rather difficult. (Espically since the paint already ON there is Lead-based.)
Since the cold weather started, I took the motor and lightbox into my garage to take a look, see if they needed any work. (And the lightbox could be cleaned and stripped easier.)
The motor (an old, old brush motor) still runs beautifully. No qualms.
The lightbox did light up, but was extremely dim. Taking it apart and looking at it, I found that it still had the original wires. Fabric covered copper stranded. It was frayed in a few places, and in others burnt from years and years. Piping 12V thru it, there was a 5.8v drop before it actually got to the lightbulb. And this is only in the 2feet that I cut from the main mast. I want to go back and test the wires running down the 22ft pole..
Anyways, anyone know of a good supplier that can supply a nice very flexible wire with 2 conductors? Preferable black? I don't want to use household wire. It's got to stand up to weathering. (Extension cord may work, I'll be looking into that tomorrow..)
As soon as I get it finished painting, I'll post a pic.
Me.

I don't know if it's black but there's some nice multistranded copper wire specifically described as 'limp' that is carried by Digi-Key [at the bottom of this page].

-Zeke

Railroad semaphore, or something else?

Welding wire is extremely flexible, is black, and is available in 12ga. Any competent welding supply store should be able to get it for you.

Railroad semaphore, or something else?

Railroad. ..Originally installed by Southern Pacific around 1920. All of them on the Siskiyou line in Southern Oregon, USA are getting replaced. (Which leaves very lettle of them actually left in service.) With ties, I was able to save two from the scrapyard.

They work, just need to be "safety upgraded". i.e. The wire, mostly..

Me.

Great idea! Thanks! My next door neighbor welds, I'll talk it up with him tomorrow. 12ga is on the larger side, but it would work, no problem..

Thanks!
Mike.

I'll probably NOT go for test-lead wire, only because it's /too/ flexible. (I don't want it to get caught in the moving parts and short out, ground out, or otherwise get left in a position where an idiot can hurt themselves..) Thanks, tho.

Me.

Perchance are you on the railway signaling list? I do remember hearing about this when it was happening.

Semaphores aren't my bill but I do have a US&S Model 14 interlocking machine, a PRR position light dwarf signal, and 2 lamp housings from a PRR position light (a high signal).

Last week a long-disused railway signal had become repainted in-situ overnight by persons unknown. It's the 40th anniversary of it's closure so they assume it was an enthusiast. Pic here:

http://www.newsprints.co.uk/portsmouth/order.cfm?photo_id=327064&pt=n

The route was the "Hayling Billy" which was on Hayling Island near Portsmouth.

Gareth

Perchance are you on the railway signaling list? I do remember hearing about this when it was happening.

I am, actually, albeit rather quiet and lurkful most of the times. (However, funny you should bring it up, I'm going to be posting it it shortly, looking for something..)

I only have the two semaphores and a grade crossing.. I have a wigwag being held for me, as they take it out of service. (Which, honestly, I hope is a long ways off..)

Me.

Did anyone else think of 'semaphore' in the Computer Science way first? I didn't even realize there *was* another meaning to that word. You learn something new every day.

Man, I'm a geek. I need to unplug and go outside more.

Yeah. I thought of the computer science meaning first but I do know the other meaning

I thought of the nautical meaning (with the flags) first.

I don't like kicking an old, dead and decaying horse, but since a few folks here didn't know what one was, I thought I'd post this link.

By the end of 2004, the remainin 44 semaphores will be removed from the line that I got my two off of. There will be no more of that type ("Style B") left in service. Work started this past Tuesday morning, and an article was printed in the State's newspaper this morning:
http://www.oregonnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040115/NEWS/101150024


Enjoy!
Me.