Ghosts of Novel Signals and Arrangements

"Novel Traffic Signals"
Photos by Adam Paul and Steve Okonski

The standardization of today's transportation world has often affected traffic signals as well. The typical new standard has come to be represented most often by larger signals strung on a 4 wire setup from 4 aluminum poles. However, in Baltimore, where quite a few varieties exist, these boring standards are often broken, whether in signal types or in wiring configurations. Here, then, is a look at some novel arrangements from days gone by, as well as a couple of neat, newer ones:

TRAFFIC SIGNAL ARRANGEMENTS:
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A common set-up of traffic signals in the area is the "Double Guy" setup used for many years, where a tension wire supports a mast holding the signals. This one stands at Roland Heights Avenue and Falls Road. NOTE - SIGNAL REPLACED 11/01 WITH NEW POLES.
Another neat Double Guy Setup is this three way adjustable suspended into the intersection of Baltimore and Eutaw Streets, the only intersection of its type in Downtown. NOTE - SIGNAL ARM COLLAPSED 2/02 - CURRENTLY STRUNG WITH DIAGONAL SUSPENSION WIRE.

While some "guys" are suspended from straight rods, and a few from curved rods, it's doubtful that there's another in town suspended from a swiveling arm. This one stands at Patapsco and Pennington Avenues. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE OKONSKI

8" (and even 12") signals with all cutaway lenses are "as scarce as hens teeth" in Baltimore City. One of only two known examples hangs at Wicomico and Ostend Streets in Southwest Baltimore. These MAY have been lights originally installed privately at intersections between city streets and major employment centers (example, the old Key Highway Shipyard) that were later sold to the city upon their removal. Another triple cut hangs at Eastern and Kenwood. Some 12" cuts can be seen at Belair and Fleetwood and Northern and Falls. Box shaped visors could at one time be found at many "dual indication" signals about town, such as Edmondson and Fremont, where a left turn arrow light signal was included. Today, however, it appears that these two signals at Park Avenue and Baltimore Street are the only ones still carrying these odd visors.

From the front, you'd assume this was your typical 8-8-8-12 signal. However, when viewed from the side, it becomes readily apparent that this signal at Northern Parkway and Harford Road is in fact cheating, by using an "Enlarger Lamp" style visor and shade on the front of a 4th 8" signal section.

Another neat signal is this flasher at Penwood and Tin Mill Roads in Sparrows Point, where the top large signal turns red on indication of an approaching train.

Not all novel arrangements revolve around the signals themselves. Rarely seen are these particularly impressive fluted poles, two of which are at Howard and 27th Streets (shown) while another is at Remington and Wyman Park Drive. It is likely that these poles supported not only traffic signals but elaborate overhead work for the #10 Trackless Trolley line as well.
Not all novel arrangements are necessarily old either, such as the city's only "U-Turn signal," this doghouse fixture on Eastbound Edmondson Avenue at Nottingham Road.

The "Never Ending Green Light" on Druid Park Lake Drive at Linden Avenue is one that few drivers can object to. Traffic only stops in the Eastbound direction to let Westbound traffic turn onto One Way Linden Avenue, while the Westbound Traffic has only green balls, green arrow, and a yellow arrow to see illuminated. At Fairmount and Joppa in Baltimore County are two odd looking Low Gravity 8-8-8-12 Left Turn Signals. Common in some parts of the country, but quite scarce here!

KNOW OF A NOVEL TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR SETUP?!? CONTACT US!!!

A common set-up of traffic signals in the area is the "Double Guy" setup used for many years, where a tension wire supports a mast holding the signals. This one stands at Roland Heights Avenue and Falls Road. NOTE - SIGNAL REPLACED 11/01 WITH NEW POLES.	Another neat Double Guy Setup is this three way adjustable suspended into the intersection of Baltimore and Eutaw Streets, the only intersection of its type in Downtown. NOTE - SIGNAL ARM COLLAPSED 2/02 - CURRENTLY STRUNG WITH DIAGONAL SUSPENSION WIRE.
While some "guys" are suspended from straight rods, and a few from curved rods, it's doubtful that there's another in town suspended from a swiveling arm. This one stands at Patapsco and Pennington Avenues. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE OKONSKI

Another neat signal is this flasher at Penwood and Tin Mill Roads in Sparrows Point, where the top large signal turns red on indication of an approaching train.
Not all novel arrangements revolve around the signals themselves. Rarely seen are these particularly impressive fluted poles, two of which are at Howard and 27th Streets (shown) while another is at Remington and Wyman Park Drive. It is likely that these poles supported not only traffic signals but elaborate overhead work for the #10 Trackless Trolley line as well.	Not all novel arrangements are necessarily old either, such as the city's only "U-Turn signal," this doghouse fixture on Eastbound Edmondson Avenue at Nottingham Road.
The "Never Ending Green Light" on Druid Park Lake Drive at Linden Avenue is one that few drivers can object to. Traffic only stops in the Eastbound direction to let Westbound traffic turn onto One Way Linden Avenue, while the Westbound Traffic has only green balls, green arrow, and a yellow arrow to see illuminated.	At Fairmount and Joppa in Baltimore County are two odd looking Low Gravity 8-8-8-12 Left Turn Signals. Common in some parts of the country, but quite scarce here!