#deshlerohio

Slow Clear

Continuing a series on the color position lights of the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Deshler, Ohio.

After being held quite a while (see previous post), the signal eventually changes from yellow to flashing green, which I understand to mean "slow clear" looking at CSX signal rules. This makes sense as the train will now take the connecting track over to the east/west double track main where the next signal sits (not CPL however).

Meet at the Diamond

While waiting in Deshler, Ohio, for the sun to drop, and perhaps a train on the Toledo Subdivision to light up the CPL signals, two trains on the Chicago line met nearly over the diamond.

Waiting for a Signal

Continuing a series on the color position lights of the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Deshler, Ohio.

The second train I photographed on the Toledo Subdivision held south of the connector track with this indication before it. While the train and I waited, the blue hour came and went.

I didn't get why the engineer could not proceed here, as I understand this signal to indicate that one may "proceed prepared to stop at the next signal". Perhaps it's simply due to the fact that he would block many road crossings in the center of town.

More Color Position Lights Continuing a series on the color position lights of the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Deshler, Ohio.

Here's the second train of which I wrote in the previous post; for this train I've popped south of the diamond to see this train approaching a signal bridge there. To quote a piece of music from back in my day, "colored lights can hypnotize".

Deshler, Ohio

Beginning a series of posts from Deshler, Ohio. It's attracted rail enthusiasts in the last few years due to some interesting signals that still operate there. I'll try to do some writing on the development of these signals—color position lights—as well as the railroads in this town over time.

Above we see an overview of the tower and crossing there along with a westbound CSX train on the former Baltimore & Ohio line to Chicago (still a busy line). Another former B&O line crosses roughly north/south here (which is the line still hosting the charismatic signals), but I'll get into that later.

I love the tower here which seems to be rented out to the U. S. Post Office. Until recently a nice brick station stood on the other side of the single track here, but was razed, much to my displeasure, fairly recently as it still shows up on Google's Street View.

A Little More from Deshler

On my second day in Deshler, I poked around south of town a bit before I took off. Saw this signal bridge, a freestanding color position light, but also two little dwarf CPLs. We're looking north along the Toledo Subdivision here.

Then I noticed this little memorial along the tracks...

Here's the text carved into marble...

PRECIOUS CHILD If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven, and bring you home again.

Trains on the Toledo

Continuing a series of posts on the color position lights of the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Deshler...

After not a terribly long wait, not one but two trains show on the Toledo Subdivision. I shot this first one from the north, looking south, and then will change my position for the second. Both will head east by taking the connector track onto the Willard Subdivision of the double track line from Chicago.

A Plethora of Color Position Lights

Two lines of the Baltimore & Ohio crossed here in the little town of Deshler; CSX sill runs plenty of trains on both lines—with blue locomotives somewhat reminiscent of the B&O.

The single track Toledo Subdivision (formerly the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railway) heads through town roughly north/south while the double track line to Chicago cuts east west. On the latter, the Garrett Subdivision lies west of here; the Willard Subdivision heads to the east. It is the Toledo Subdivision that is bristling with CPLs.