"WALK : WAIT Signals"
All photos by Adam Paul
Perhaps it seems odd that a city once termed as "The City that Reads"  has for years "upgraded" the overwhelming majority of it's signals from a "WALK : DON'T WALK" reading to a symbol picture of a walking man and raised hand.  Perhaps this was introduced by Federal regulations, but in any event, the overall effect of the trend is somewhat belittling to our so-called "read happy" residents.

Thankfully, this is also "The City of Ghosts" where old public works fixtures have a way of persisting for many years.  As a result, a small but respectable number (apparently 20) of Marblelite, Econolite, and GE "streamlined" style dual-signal heads have survived until today, still carrying the abrupt but effective "WALK" and "WAIT" indicators in lieu of the annoying little pictures.  These signal heads are attractive, and do their job without being overbearing.   Those that persist appear to date from the 1950's, and have outlived some designs that have surfaced since.  May they live long and prosper!
 
 

LOCATIONS OF KNOWN WALK-WAITSIGNALS
Intersection: Number of Signals, Corners Covered: Type (BOX (marbelite, econolite), or GE)
Druid Hill Avenue and Gold Street 1: NW GE
Reisterstown Road and Anoka Avenue 2: SW, SE GE
Calvert and Biddle Streets 2: SW GE
St. Paul Street and Charcotte Place 1: SE BOX
St. Paul Street and Read Street 2: NW, NE BOX - REMOVED 9/01
St. Paul Street and Monument Street 3: NW BOX - among only RED "WAIT" lenses of all remaining W-W's
North Avenue and Poplar Grove Street 2: SW, SE BOX
Poplar Grove Street and Franklintown Rd 2: NW BOX, at least one lens carries figures instead of words.
Poplar Grove Street and Baker Street 2: SE, SW BOX - SE signal rotated by vandal?,red wait signal. SW signal carries walking figure lens and hand.
Fayette Street and Monroe Street 2: NE, NW BOX
Pennsylvania Avenue and Fremont Avenue 1: S BOX
North Avenue and Aisquith Street 1: NE BOX
Biddle Street and Washington Street 1: SE GE - Damaged
York Road and Bellona - Benninghaus 1: NW BOX (Marbelite final), 
figure walk lens
 WALK-WAIT FUN FACTS!
  • Pedestrian signals were not all too common until 1955, when 740 WALK-WAIT lights and 115 Neon DON'T WALK units were purchased.  It appears that these were the round GE units, as these units began to appear at the same time as the GE traffic signals did.
  • In about 1957, an additional 300 WALK-WAIT units were purchased for use.  It appears that the original curved lenses were either unavailable or didn't suit Baltimore's needs, and as a result, custom lenses from Kopp were supplied which carried the ashtray shape that all remaining units carry.
  • In practice, WALK WAIT lights simply switched between the cycle with the traffic lights.  The neon units, however, all featured the famed Barnes Dance setup, where traffic on all streets stopped, allowing pedestrians free reign of the intersection, even allowing to cross diagonally.
  • In 1959, another supply of lenses was ordered, 150 of each.  It is believed that this lens order is characterized by the RED Wait lenses.  The retrofitted man and hand lenses were probably created much later.
  • New installations of WALK-WAIT lights appears to have continued until about 1962, when the all too familiar square WALK and DON'T WALK indicators began to appear. 
  • About 200 intersections in the city appear to have once carried the WALK WAIT indicators, which makes for some drastic attrition when you consider that only 20 known units remain!

    • The last Neon appears to be that at the Memorial Stadium plaza, which was removed in 1989.  One young signal enthusiast tried to acquire it from the crews removing it, but was sadly unsuccessful.

Ghosts of the WALK : WAIT variety


Located at Charcotte Road and Saint Paul Street, this WALK : WAIT signal is in it's most raw and beautiful form.  Note also that this signal is the only crossing indicator of any type at this intersection, and would only activate when requested from across Saint Paul Street.



WALK-WAIT lights are often seen hiding, which may account for their survival!  The Avenue's last W-W still stands in service, where it has served since 1959.


Pair of Walk-Waits at Saint Paul and Monument present a slightly shabby appearance, yet still do the job well.


Is it correct to call this signal a WALK-WAIT when it displays neither word.  This signal at the Southwest corner of Bloomingdale and Baker is among the few that recieved a full retrofit to the picture symbols now used, and is likely the only one surviving in this setup. While the hand light is burnt out, the figure illuminated at the time this photo was taken.


Spiffier than its Monument Street counterparts is this signal at Saint Paul and Read Streets, which shows well the opaque style lenses used in these signals. THESE SIGNALS WERE REMOVED CA. 9/01


Walk-Wait Light mounted at Calvert and Biddle is fashioned in the more svelte, streamlined, GE style.  In addition, it carries Tunnel type visors.  It is the sole surviving "W/W" set at this intersection.


A lone "WW'" observes the corner of Druid Hill Avenue and Gold Street, another of the few examples of GE's craft.  This signal was installed in 1958.

WW's - The Lovely and the Ugly...

  . . . . . . 
The Lovely: Regardless of the Walking figure lens retrofitted into this signal, the short pole, combined with the fins on top and bottom make this Marbelite at the three way intersection of York Road, Bellona Avenue, and Benninghaus Road among the most lovely remaining specimens in the city.  Aside from a bumper sticker applied to a visor, this signal seems to have lived a pretty peaceful life!


The Lovely: Though not embellished with the final of it's York Road sistern, this double headed pedestrian signal shows signs of a fairly peaceful life at the corner of Poplar Grove Street and Franklintown Road. Close inspection reveals a walking man lens for those crossing Poplar Grove.


The Ugly (*as hard as it is for me to call one of these beauties "ugly"): This Walk Wait at Biddle and Washington Streets shows some signs of hard neglect.  Directly beneath the "PRR Corridor," it's stands today missing bulb, lens, and visor from it's Walk signal.  It's connection to the overpass girder does keep it well hidden however.  UPDATE!!!  At least someone carries some sympathy for this signal.  During a visit in 5/02, the signal had a replacement worded WALK lens on the bottom aspect.  Still no visor though!


The Ugly: when bad things happen to good lights.  It seems that someone with too much time on their hands decided to molest this once lovely signal at the Southeast corner of Poplar Grove and Baker Streets.
MANY THANKS TO FATHER KEVIN MUELLER FOR THESE GREAT LEADS!


LENSES:


It is assumed that all the remaining WALK-WAIT lights carry the flat faced, wide lettered "ash tray"  lenses, as seen in detail here. These lenses date from 1957 and later.


A handful of units carried a curved lens with slimmer etched letters, as seen here in this one, from the collection of George Knarr, but all are believed to have been since removed or replaced.



While Baltimore once had neon tubed WALK-DON'T WALK signs up until the early-mid 1980's, these have vanished from the streets completely.  Four neon tubed pedestrian signs of a different nature exist however on Charles and 33rd/34th Streets to alert pedestrians as to which lanes of traffic on Charles are open.

GOT A GOOD LOCATION TO WALK TO?!?  DON'T MAKE US WAIT! CONTACT US!