"Amusement Park" Crossing Signal at Journal Square

Noticed this a few years back, but was able to confirm my hazy memories last week:

At Journal Square there is a crossing signal made by the Miniature Train Signal Company. These were made in the 1950's-onward for amusement parks, so my question is what is it doing in a authentic commuter railroad station? How long has it been there? Was this some signal crew deciding to have some fun, or was this actually seriously installed with a purpose?

greenwichlirr wrote:At Journal Square there is a crossing signal made by the Miniature Train Signal Company. These were made in the 1950's-onward for amusement parks, so my question is what is it doing in a authentic commuter railroad station? How long has it been there? Was this some signal crew deciding to have some fun, or was this actually seriously installed with a purpose?

It does operate - both the lights and gate. It is at a somewhat-used employee walkway, between the air handling and other equipment platform and the tower. [There's also access to the equipment platform from behind the ticket machines and map on the lower mezzanine, outside fare control.]

It was probably available for use (maybe ordered by mistake, maybe ordered on purpose as a failed cost-saving experiment) and thus ended up being used. Where it's said that it's an employee crossing, is this a crossing only intended for railroad employees?

RedLantern wrote:Where it's said that it's an employee crossing, is this a crossing only intended for railroad employees?

Correct. At the west end of the NY-bound platform there are 2 sets of steps, one that goes up to the tower and one that goes down from platform level to grade level. There are two tracks between the bottom of those steps and the signal - the (normally) WTC-bound track and a layup track. The walkway continues past the signal - you can go left, which leads to steps up to a platform-height area which contains air handling and other equipment, or you can go right, which leads to a large open area (this is under the Kennedy Blvd. bridge arch) and eventually out to open air to the west of Kennedy Blvd.

That signal has been there as long as I can remember. I thought it was a neat way to warn the PATH workers. And it certainly fits into the available space!

Anyone have any pics they can post?

Photography of PATH facilities is prohibited without special permission (there's a thread mentioning that around here somewhere as I remember reading it recently) so not as easy as it seems to grant your request.

I was chased away from that once. It was the centenial day free ride event, and I was waiting for a Trade Center bound train and was staring at the thing when a female conductor said I couldn't stand there. I was still on the platform, several feet from the end. She gave me some BS about how I couldn't pass a certain pillar and threatened to call the cops. I told her if she tried, she'd be the one in trouble by the end of the day (and belive me, I can make good on that threat).

Seriously, pale white brooklynese speaking kid with a M*A*S*H* medic sack schoolbag staring at a mini crossing gate. How much harm can I possible cause?

They have another, similar crossing gate at the RR east end of the yard in harrison. Train sounds its horns every time through there. It is directly adjacent to the hudson yard complex in amtk territory.

- A

Back in the 70's and 80's PATH had their control center down on the platform's west end. It was under the bvld. bridge. That crossing was employee.

You guys keep mentioning a gate. I don't recall seeing a gate on this thing, and I honestly don;t think I;ve ever seen a gate on one at any amusement park that still had them.

Did I miss something?

there was a gate back in 70's. they did move up stairs to the PATH building there would less traffic

The gate in question is by Moore tower. I guess after the Hoban Control Center was built in Journal Square, operations moved up there.

I'm not sure what Moore is used for now.

For reference, here is the signal that this post is about (Not THE signal, but the same type). It stands about 6 feet high.

Here is a picture of similar gates installed down at PATH's Henderson yard.

http://world.nycsubway.org/perl/show?23820

Charlie