Large Scale Central

Highball signal question

Modeling
#1

I’ve searched the net and found most of my missing info on highball signals. But, I haven’t been able to determine if all signals were completely out of view( i.e. in a box or covered area) or just dropped to the low point on the pole.

I find rhe nominal height to be 30’
normal color—red or white
nominal size of ball 24" more or less
normal area of operation northeast states
someboxes at base of pole

but since the ball was removeable and interchanged with other colors at times my question is Did it have to be out of site or just low on the pole?

#2

As near as I’ve been able to tell it was the light/lantern that was either in sight or hidden from view, thus the can at the bottom. Probably in some cases the light would even be removed and placed only when a stop indication was desired at night. Since “highball” meant go it would stand to reason that a low ball meant stop. No need to completely hide the ball since the indicator had to be one or the other unless a midpoint ball meant slow. From the variety of ball signal designs though I would have to assume there were also a variety of practices.

It’d be interesting to examine old rule books from the ball signal period. I’d bet they were all a bit different.

#3

Thanks Richard. While reading I noted one road had 30 some signal combinations with differant ball colors