Semaphores in Michigan

[MQT1223]

Just curious as to where the last semaphores were in Michigan before they were replaced. Are there any semaphores still around, whether abandoned or partial? I thought I saw something about a fixed semaphore still in service somewhere near the shores of Lake Michigan. Anyone care to fill in?

[NYCMan]

The place to see semaphores was West Detroit.... up until around 1976. There was a beautiful signal bridge overlooking 6 tracks. Semaphores are all gone now, except for what you might find in a railfan's backyard. I do know someone posted a list of semaphores still left in the USA a few years back and, curiously, person or persons unknown went about "preserving" a few of them... without permission of the owing railroads.

[Saturnalia]

There is a fixed one at the Holland Depot...next to the caboose.

[SD80MAC]

The only semaphores left to my knowledge are just fixed approach aspects, they are just blades with a yellow light that don't move. Kalamazoo has (had?) one north of the diamonds on the Grand Elk, and there's one in Saginaw on the Lake State. There was one in Manistee before the swing bridge on Marquette, but I think that has been replaced.

[Saturnalia]

Correct, the approach signal in Manistee was replaced.

Along the same lines...are there any remaining wigwags out there?

[NYCMan]

There are operational, fully-functional, wigs wags AND semaphores to be seen at Greenfield Village, Dearborn.

[PatAzo]

The only semaphores left to my knowledge are just fixed approach aspects, they are just blades with a yellow light that don't move. Kalamazoo has (had?) one north of the diamonds on the Grand Elk,

The southbound approach to Kalamazoo is a grade crossing light with a yellow lens and wooden arm. It looks like a genuine semaphore from a distance but isn't. The northbound approach is a fixed semaphore. The GTW diamond at Gibson St was protected with a tilting target signal until the diamond was removed in the 80's.

[LSRC]

The semaphore at N 6th Ave in Saginaw has been replaced. Attached file is a recent photo taken by Ron Cady.

[penn central]

There is one more on the Lake States in Buena Vista on the Port Huron Sub just south of the I-75 overpass but a person would have to severally trespass to get a shot. You can see it down the tracks going over the tracks on the Xway.

[NSSD70ACe]

Yeah the semaphore at Portage Street is still up and is locked in an "approach" aspect. As far as I know, it's the only semaphore still up in the immediate area. I doubt Grand Elk would replace it if it's just going to be an approach signal.

[Notch 8]

Yeah the semaphore at Portage Street is still up and is locked in an "approach" aspect. As far as I know, it's the only semaphore still up in the immediate area. I doubt Grand Elk would replace it if it's just going to be an approach signal.

Here is the approach signal on Portage Street in Kalamazoo MI,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrail/15987700041/

[Tim]

There was an operating ex PM semaphore in use on the reconstruction of the Shay line in Haring north of Cadillac when I was last there ten years ago. The C&O donated it to the Lansing Model Railroad Club who in turn sold it many years later to a guy in Howell. When he passed away it went to the Haring group. Anyone know if this is still in operation?

[GP30M4216]

There is one more on the Lake States in Buena Vista on the Port Huron Sub just south of the I-75 overpass but a person would have to severally trespass to get a shot. You can see it down the tracks going over the tracks on the Xway.

Is this a Lake State line? I thought it was Huron and Eastern? Either way, I have never been able to find a photo of this semaphore. We need an HESR engineer (or LSRC or whoever it is) to help us out! I'm just curious to know what the thing looks like at less than 70mph!

Here's a photo (now almost 10 years old) showing the northbound Rule 285-A Approach semaphore at Portage Street in Kalamazoo. Based on the current image posted above, it needs a bit of a paint job!



I'm not sure where the last functioning semaphore(s) were in Michigan, but the last close by were on the old "backside" of the Toledo Terminal at Hallet Tower in Toledo. There was a pair of T2 semaphores controlled by the tower operator to move trains off the backside and onto the CSX. I believe these were replaced around 2007 when some signalling upgrades took place and some track may have been realigned.



And since we talked about it, here's a 2004 photo of the old approach blade in Manistee, which has now been replaced:

[Saturnalia]

I have been told there is a person in Howell who has a working semaphore, in his yard near the CSX Plymouth sub, and will "line" it for trains when they go by...

[penn central]

Hello GP30M4216 as far as i know LSRC owns to Townline Rd past that its HESR. Because LSRC serves Nexteer witch is the old Delphi and before that GM plant.
And also there used to be Semaphores at Mershon the south home signals on the old NYC main up until 1985.

[A No.1]

There are 2 in Kalamazoo on the Elk

One south of BO near Portage Rd. And one north of BO forget the street name. Both Fixed approach.

[J T]

The southbound approach to Kalamazoo is a grade crossing light with a yellow lens and wooden arm. It looks like a genuine semaphore from a distance but isn't.

Can you elaborate on this? I've seen that semaphore a bunch of times but I've never heard of the term "grade crossing light" in reference to it.

[Saturnalia]

The southbound approach to Kalamazoo is a grade crossing light with a yellow lens and wooden arm. It looks like a genuine semaphore from a distance but isn't.

Can you elaborate on this? I've seen that semaphore a bunch of times but I've never heard of the term "grade crossing light" in reference to it.

I think he means a grade crossing flasher...MQT's SB approach in Manistee is one, just changed out the red lense with a yellow one

[PatAzo]

The southbound approach to Kalamazoo is a grade crossing light with a yellow lens and wooden arm. It looks like a genuine semaphore from a distance but isn't.

Can you elaborate on this? I've seen that semaphore a bunch of times but I've never heard of the term "grade crossing light" in reference to it.

From Mosel it looks like the one at Portage Rd, a semaphore with the potential to have multiple indications but with the spectacle locked in an approach indication. But if you walk back and take a look it is the light off a grade crossing signal with a yellow lens in place of red and a home made blade tacked in place on the pole.

[J T]

Thanks for the explanation, Pat. I'll take a closer look next time. Unfortunately you can't get very close to it without trespassing, though.