tollkuhn@drivax.UUCP (garret tollkuhn) (01/31/86)
The last time I was up that way the SP was still using lower-quadrant two-position semaphores on the Siskiyou Line between Black Butte, CA and Eugene, OR. These required two arms per signal in order to provide the necessary indications. The SP also uses semaphores for train order signals, although these are gradually being phased out in favor of colored lights. The last operating semaphores (non train order) on the Western Division (where I worked) were at the 16th street interlocking in Oakland, CA, near the Amtrak depot. One interlocking signal in particular, governing movements from the main line to the old "electric" tracks in Emeryville gave a particulary confusing indication (3-arms). These were all replaced around 1977 with searchlight signals. I believe the ex-NP lines in Idaho and Montana still have upper-quadrant semaphores for simple ABS signals only. Now that I think of it, the Santa Fe between Richmond and Stockton may still use semaphores. I haven't been up that way for a few years to know for sure, but they did as of 1980. Garret Tollkuhn ...amdahl!drivax!tollkuhn