RAILROAD SIGNALS of the U.S.
the Manheim
Transportation
and Industrial Museum
Manheim PA
The other day on my way to the PA Renaissance Faire, I happened to look down the track as I crossed the old Reading tracks in Manheim PA. Manheim is about 10 miles or so north of Lancaster on Rt 72, and is (kinda) famous for the car auctions held here.
This depot was built in 1881. It is of Victorian architecture and is 32 x 85 feet. It is believed to have been designed by the renowned RR architect Frank Furness, who designed many of the Readings depots of the period, as well as the Aberdeen B&O and Riderwood NC depots, featured elsewhere on this website. The building is unique in that the roof supports are cantilevered, in other words, the end of the roof supports do not rest upon the weight bearing outer walls directly. The inside of the depot has had little done to it except for a new floor. On the "lower" floor, there is a separate men's and women's waiting room.
The last passenger train to come thru was on November 5th, 1950..... there is still one freight a day, but only goes as far east as Lititz.
The exhibits are very well done, and a few are shown below.
For the signal fan, they have a single head PRR style PL signal at the west end of the property, and a train order signal that is NOT located on or above the building. Inside, there are two actuating levers not unlike those used for interlocking. Outside, wood still covers where the throw rods traveled, altho it appears they have been removed. Judging from the casting number on the spectacle, it looks like it's a US&S model with a wooden blade, with red, (faded) yellow, and green lenses. There are no lamps, and in the configuration it is in, would have required two lamps for lighting at night. They also have a unique "train on branch" sign, which operates like a semaphore, but is locked in the "displayed" position..... pretty cool!
Last but not least, they have a surviving Lancaster streetcar, powered and operating no less!
New 9/03/2008
Last Modified:
14-May-2011