Track Chart Symbol Question

[bman]

Got a quick question for the group. While I doubt one can tell what type of signal is used from a track chart, the little signal symbol does indicate something if one knows what they are looking at. I don't. Did a quick google for an answer and wasn't too successful. While I could wait until the next time I am able to make the slide show night up at Marion Union Station and get an answer from the guys who were operators along the line, that will likely be 2024. Being the impatient type I thought I'd ask you folks. The chart is from Tates Point on the Erie Lackawanna and NYC mains on the north end of Dayton Ohio crossing the B&O. The EL and NYC yards just to the south behind the photographer. The EL and NYC mains ran parallel from here to Cold Springs just west of Springfield. The EL turned toward Marion and the NYC to Springfield from there. thanks for the help.

https://northamericaninterlockings.com/images/tatespointOHdiagram.jpg?214

https://northamericaninterlockings.com/images/tatespointOHoroszi5.jpg?635

[C855B]

NOT a quick question. Lots of information in there.

Yes, you can tell what type of signal from the symbols. First and obvious is the tall ones are full-height masts, short ones are dwarfs. The cluster below “Tates Point” indicates a double mast, the cluster below “Freight House Leads” is a full signal bridge.

The short lines perpendicular-ish to the mast representations are the available aspects for each head, somewhat resembling semaphore positions. The bold line is the default indication. Most you see at 90° to the mast are red, but I see a handful with yellow on the top head, for 'approach’ as the default indication, 45° up from horizontal (to the mast). Short line all the way up represents green as a possible indication. Now there are a few with a short line 45° down from horizontal, which would indicate lunar, or otherwise a Pennsy/PC ‘restricting’ position-light aspect.

I believe - could be corrected - that a little circle on the side of the mast represents a call-on indicator.

One mystery (to me) is the signal right below “CP206 - Drawbridge”. Considering the drawbridge I can surmise it might be a smashboard, but that’s a semi-educated guess, as my signal experience is with Western roads. I never saw a smashboard in real life.

[bman]

Thanks. As far as Drawbridge the area it would have been in isn't listed on this interactive map of the area. It would have been somewhere past the EL and NYC yards but before the Dayton Depot area. I wonder if there was actually a drawbridge there at one time. I've not seen on on historic aerials either. I guess way back when there might have been before a lot of development in the area. I wasn't able to come up with anything on a drawbridge in Dayton. What's in a name I guess.
Everything I have read says that EL and NYC/PC used both mains like a double track main line most of the time. I need to re-read the PC Post article on the area.
The few photos of the area I have found online don't show any semaphore signals in the area. They all look like NYC but some photos the signals are a fair piece away from the photographer. The only semaphore in photos I have found is this one up the line at Cold Springs. And how about that early CR train headed to Dayton from Springfield.

https://northamericaninterlockings.com/images/coldspringsOHsinclair.jpg?226

So looks like I'll be building some signals using Showcase Miniatures offerings. Then work out some logic to run them. I am only planning on modeling from Tates Point to just north of Fairborn along 3 walls in the newly acquired train room. Just leaving out the AFB as there's no way I've enough room to do it justice.

[C855B]

The symbols on the chart do not represent that they are semaphores, they just are illustration of the aspects available for whatever has been put there. On the B&O they would have been color position signals, PC maybe PRR position lights (or was this PC location ex-Reading?), and I suspect EL was searchlights.

I'm fascinated by #s 2063, 41A and 41B - four-aspect dwarfs. Possible with a PRR position light, less possible with a B&O color-position dwarf (four aspects were very rare) but not a searchlight, nor a semaphore.

[signalmaintainer]

The symbols on the chart do not represent that they are semaphores, they just are illustration of the aspects available for whatever has been put there. On the B&O they would have been color position signals, PC maybe PRR position lights (or was this PC location ex-Reading?), and I suspect EL was searchlights.

I'm fascinated by #s 2063, 41A and 41B - four-aspect dwarfs. Possible with a PRR position light, less possible with a B&O color-position dwarf (four aspects were very rare) but not a searchlight, nor a semaphore.

Given that there are mechanical levers for the interlocking, I'd wager on semaphore signals.

[nkalanaga]

I have read (never seen one in real life) that smashboards were sometimes used at level crossings.

[cv_acr]

Given that there are mechanical levers for the interlocking, I'd wager on semaphore signals.

Given that the photo in the second link clearly shows an actual signal bracket with non semaphore signals, I'd wager against you. The mechanical linkages might control switches, or they might be wholly obsolete and upgraded to electric/electro-mechanical systems.

The chart doesn't imply semaphores, it just shows which red-yellow-green aspects are possible for each signal head.

[cv_acr]

The cluster below “Tates Point” indicates a double mast

A.k.a. a "bracket" structure. This would appear to be the signal visible behind the train in the photo in the second link in the O.P.

[cv_acr]

I'm fascinated by #s 2063, 41A and 41B - four-aspect dwarfs. Possible with a PRR position light, less possible with a B&O color-position dwarf (four aspects were very rare) but not a searchlight, nor a semaphore.

It could be representing a red-yellow-green-lunar search light or colour-light signal. Check the signal rules chart for the appropriate railroad to see what signal aspects are possible. Note there are other signals on the bridge structure to the bottom left that show a down-ward sloped (lunar?) aspect as well.

[C855B]

It could be representing a red-yellow-green-lunar search light or colour-light signal. ...

Color-light, possibly; searchlight, unlikely. SA-type signals from that era are basically mini-semaphores in a case, and only have three positions. There are modern four-aspect searchlights, but those came with developments in light-pipe technology.