Eastern Railroad Discussion > Old Main Line Signals in Virginia

Looking for some help in finding good main line action with old signals in Virginia. I've seen some great photos of the N&W signals in Arcadia, VA on the H-line, although it looks like those are coming down (or are down now).

What remains of old N&W, B&O, etc signals on the Virgnia mainlines? Any spots you'd recommend? I'd prefer spots in the northern portion of the state as I'd like to visit from Philly in the next few weeks.

If you want something like the attached, you will have to commit to going south of Front Royal.
US 340 is the main chase road, but if you want pics at Vaughan Summit, or the line between Stanley and Shenandoah, you better have good maps or know how to use your GPS.
"Old" signals do not exist elsewhere in the "northern" part of VA.
There are no B&O mainlines in Virginia, unless you are confused about the location of Harpers Ferry...

My photo at Bentonville, VA. 10/17/2020

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In Ohio the old PRR position light signals are coming down on the tracks west of Alliance to Bucyrus.  

bigsavage Wrote:
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> If you want something like the attached, you will
> have to commit to going south of Front Royal.
> US 340 is the main chase road, but if you want
> pics at Vaughan Summit, or the line between
> Stanley and Shenandoah, you better have good maps
> or know how to use your GPS.
> "Old" signals do not exist elsewhere in the
> "northern" part of VA.
> There are no B&O mainlines in Virginia, unless you
> are confused about the location of Harpers
> Ferry...
>
> My photo at Bentonville, VA. 10/17/2020

Thank you. Yeah I'm showing some lack of knowledge. Thanks for the tips. I'll do some research on spots south of Front Royal on the H line

You are correct that the signals at Arcadia (and Solitude) may already be gone. I was by there on Oct 24 and the new signals had already been installed but not activated, with a crew working on the signals at the north end of the siding at Solitude. Photos of the signals are attached, unfortunately there were no trains on the line when I was there.

As stated there are still some CPL signals between Front Royal and Shenandoah. As of August, Vaughn and Summit, Bentonville and Acorn Hill still had CPLs (photo is of Acorn Hill). There was no evidence of any work to install new signals at these locations at that time. The signals at Stanley and Wilsons were replaced sometime last summer.

My post from August which included Acorn Hill and Vaughn:
A Few From the NS H-Line between Luray and Front Royal VA

Photos from 10/24/24

1. Signals at Arcadia

2. Signals at Solitude, signal crew visible on the right.

Glenn



 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/24 14:17 by gcw.

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There were also sets of CPLs at both ends of the sidings at Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft, and Vesuvius. Its been a couple years since I have been down there so don’t know if they are still intact. Same goes for the sidings at Lithia and Troutville, but given their proximity to Solitude those are likely endangered if not already toast.

Posted from iPhone

Unfortunately all the CPLs around Waynesboro and Stuarts Draft disappeared within the last several years. However they were still standing at Vesuvius/Pkin as of last month, and there was no evidence of them being replaced yet. Its been several years since I've visited any of the other sidings, so I can't comment on current status.

The intermediates have not been CPLs for a long time but the home signals along the ex-N&W Shenandoah Valley Line at the sidings remain in places. Working north to south the first remaining one is at Warren (south end of Front Royal) visible from the Luray Ave underpass. You can also get views looking south towards the CPLs at Bentonville and Acorn Hill (south end of Bentonville). If in the area, you might also want to get a shot of a train crossing the trestle at Compton. Traffic is light but 15T is often headed south through the area in mid-late morning.

Steve Gass
Linden, VA
B-LineRailfan



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/24 11:37 by B-LineRailfan.

Thanks all. Very helpful

I've always found the N&W color position lights the easiest to understand, and the the easiest ot interpret in all weather conditions.  The change to "Southern" style signals masts, and then the addition of CR's speed-based signals (as opposed to route-based) was another layer of complexity.  Always chose the N&W's on the annual book-of-rules exam, even though I had to know them all.