GE "Streamlined" Signals

In the Traffic Signal priming school, the first and easiest lesson in Baltimore's vintage traffic signals is the ability to readily distinguish the GE signals from any others.  This is no difficult task, as the GE Streamlined signal heads carry a unique and readily distinguishable look to them which makes them easy to spot from blocks away.  Still there are numerous varieities that can be found throughout the region, as represented within this page.

First and foremost is the look of the GE Signal head.  Instead of carrying an assemblage of signal lights in a boxed form, GE's consist of light housings that are circular, and not much larger than the signal lenses themselves, thus presenting a streamlined, radically different appearance from all others.  What follows are some examples of surviving setups of GE signal types.

While GE signals are believed to have debuted during World War II in Chicago among other places, they did not debut here until about 1955.  They were among an order (presumably new) placed under the leadership of Henry Barnes, and have always been painted the yellow color that he adopted while here.  By 1956, new span wired installations of GE round body single signals were a common sight in Baltimore.  Interestingly, all of these such installations have vanished, and the remaining survivors are a mix of mostly 3 and 4 way clusters, along with some pole based signals hung from span wire, and some pole mounted single signals that were installed in the early 1960's.

During the late 1970's and early 1980's, GE signals were largely removed from the streets of Baltimore, many of which were shuffled off to the City's surplus mart, where lucky buyers could pick one up for just $10 (compare this to ebay where one of these lights today would average about $100, when they can be found!).  Though often reported to be particularly delicate, the fact that these lights have served Baltimore intersections for close to 50 years through all kinds of weather is a testament to some degree of durability.  It will be interesting to see just how long it will be until the last one comes down - no time soon we hope!



 
SOME SURVIVORS:

The Basic single-face GE in a pole mounted form can be observed at a few spots around town, one of which is Keswick Road and University Parkway (Northern Crossing), as shown here. Other single GE's can be observed mounted on poles hanging suspended from wiring in a few spots as well, such as Liberty Heights and Granada.

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University and Keswick is also home to a GE 3-way cluster seen here.  These may also be spotted in small numbers about town.

The most common setups among GE lights in Baltimore are as 4 way clusters, such as this one at Eutaw and Redwood Streets.  Note the use of full visors on most of the Green signals within this grouping.
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The use of GE signals is not limited simply to stoplights, as these Fire House clearance signals on McMechen Street at McCulloh Street testify, and should hopefully persist for years to come.

Meanwhile, a few GE's continue to function as "flashing"  signals warning motorists at starts and curves in Median Strips.  This well intact specimen does its daily duty at Roland Avenue and Wyndhurst.
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Another dual direction GE Flasher sorts out the outgoing traffic of Druid Hill Park for motorists approaching  McCulloh Street from within the park.

The most GE filled intersection anywhere is this one at Gay, Oliver, and Washington Streets in East Baltimore.  TEN (of the total of 12) GE's are visible here in this view, along with the hardy center mounted Eagle 4 way!
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This GE cluster at Athol and Old Frederick demonstrates the versatilty of the adjustable cluster when compared to a fixed 4-way signal.  Since these streets meet at about 60 and 120 degree angles instead of in a perpendicular fashion, the signals may be rotated somewhat to offer a better view.
GE signals can take their share of abuse, albeit with some scars to show as a result. On May 29 2002 at about 3:30pm, this cluster at Bentalou and Lafayette was struck and lost a couple visors, while two of the inner reflectors dangled about perilously.  Crews were on the scene later that day, and the signal was saved, though the signal heads now sport some electrical tape.  NOTE: The first view is rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the second.
LOCATIONS OF KNOWN SURVIVING GE Round Streamlined Units
LOCATION: Configuation: Quantity: Running Tab:
Gay, Oliver and Washington Streets -2-2-2-2-4 Clusters 20 20
Bentaou Street and Baker Street 4-4 Clusters 8 28
Bentalou Street and Lafayette Avenue 4-4 Clusters 8 36
Eutaw Street and Redwood Street 4-4 Clusters 8 44
Carey Street and Edmondson Avenue 2-4-2 Clusters 8 52
Liberty Heights Avenue and Eldorado Avenue 1-3-3-1 Clusters and Singles 8 60
Old Frederick Avenue and Athol Avenue 2-4-2 Clusters 8 68
Light Street and West Street 4-4 Clusters 8 76
Druid Hill Avenue and Presstman Street 4-4 Clusters 8 84
Whitelock Street and Eutaw Place 4-4 Clusters 8 92
Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Avenue 4-4 Clusters 8 100
29th Street and Sisson Street 4-4 Clusters 8 108
Patterson Park Avenue and Fairmount Avenue 4-4 Clusters 8 116
Fayette Street and Ellwood Avenue -4-4 Clusters 8 124
Patterson Park Avenue and Biddle Street 4-4 Clusters 8 132
Patterson Park Avenue and Preston Street 4-4 Clusters 8 140
Biddle Street and Central Avenue 4-4 Clusters 8 148
Orleans Street and Chester Street 4-4 Clusters 8 156
Pratt Street and Washington Street 4-4 Clusters 8 164
McElderry Street and Lakewood Avenue 4-4 Clusters 8 172
Monument Street and Milton Avenue 4-4 Clusters 8 180
Saint Paul Street and 31st Street 3-4 Clusters 7 187
Cold Spring Lane and Garrison Boulevard 2-4-1 Clusters and Single 7 194
University Parkway and Keswick Road 3-3-1 Clusters and Pole light 7 201
Gilmor Street and Lafayette Avenue -4-2 Clusters 6 207
Washington Street and Biddle Street 5 guy wired lights hung from short poles beneath PRR Underpass 5 212
Maryland Avenue and 27th Street - 4 way cluster 4 216
Saint Paul Street and 27th Street - 4 way cluster 4 220
Coldspring Lane and Dolfield Avenue - 4 way cluster 4 224
Wolfe Street and Aliceanna Street - 4 way cluster 4 228
Patterson Park Avenue and Orleans Street - 4 way cluster 4 232
29th Street and Huntingdon Avenue - 4 way cluster 4 236
Hilton Street and Windsor Avenue - 4 way cluster 4 240
Calvert Street and Chase Street - 3 way cluster 3 243
Hanover Street and Frankfurst Avenue - 2 way cluster 2 245
Washington Street and Preston Street - 2 pole mounted lights 2 247
Preston Street and Caroline Street - 2 pole mounted lights 2 249
Fleet Street and Kenwood Avenue - 2 pole mounted lights 2 251
McCulloh Street and McMechen Street - 2 pole mounted lights 2 253
Albemarle Street and Pratt Street - 2 span mounted lights hooked directly to wire 2 255
Druid Hill Avenue and Dolphin Street - 2 pole mounted lights 2 257
Lafayette Avenue and Argyle Avenue - 2 span mounted lights hooked directly to wire 2 259
University Parkway and 40th Street - 1 pole mounted light 1 260
Hopkins Place and Baltimore Street - 1 pole mounted light 1 261
29th Street and Remington Avenue - 1 pole mounted light 262
North Avenue at Walbrook Fire House 2 wired warning and stop signals 2 264
Druid Hill Park exit at Gwynns Falls Parkway 2 pole mounted warning flashers 2 266
Roland Avenue and Wyndhurst Avenue 1 pole mounted warning flasher 1 267
McMechen Street at Fire House 2 pole mounted Proceed signals 2 269

A look at the past installations of GE Signals can be seen here in this 1958 view of Saratoga and Saint Paul Streets.  Note the signals being hung directly from the wire.  No such signals still exist in this mounting fashion......
WRONG!!!

It seems there's no greater impetus for me to find something as to go on record on this site to say that such a thing no longer exists.



Throughly disproving my above assertation that no more GE's exist that are directly hung from span wire (without the use of an extension pole) are two signals at Argyle and Lafayette Avenues in West Baltimore.

The other wire mounted  signal at Argyle and Lafayette interestingly is in among the best condition of all the GE signals still in service.  It even appears to have gotten a recent repaint.