Does the railroad reuse old crossing signals?

Question

e.g. when they are widening a road and they remove the old signals what do they do with them?

Answer 1

Pile of signals on the ACE line?  Might be this museum http://www.ncry.org/   Come volunteer!

What do railroads do with signals?  Most likely they scrap em because they consider em "worn out".  Or they reuse them or sell them or give em to museums.  

"Scrap" means recycle, by the way.  They're metal.

Do you want some for your own?  They're easy to work with, the lamps are 12 volts DC.   Where to go?  

- The "Materials management" office of a large railroad company is responsible for getting rid of surplus.  Look them up.  One place to look em up is the "Pocket (yeah right) Guide to Railway Officials" you'll find in a library, most likely a university or county planner's library.

- If you see signal guys working on signals, ask em!  Look for the guy with the white hard hat (supervisor).  He probably won't let you have em, but he'd tell you who to ask.  

- Talk to your local short line railroads, they hardly ever have stuff to sell, but they are much easier to reach and will know other people in the biz.

Answer 2

It would depend on the depth of the "pockets" of the railroad.

I know that CALTRAIN recycled 2 dozen crossing-gates when they did a "grade-separation" project back in 1997-2000.

I have SEEN a yard of crossing-gates stored along a length of Union Pacific track on the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE)... some of them LOOKED older.

And YES, I've also seen out-dated signals on-line for sale.

Answer 3

More that likely They will replace them with up dated ones, Because you and I know they stay up for a long while , But the state won't the intersection to look better , Remember they like to spend money, hope this helps

Answer 4

I've worked for two railroads, and I've seen old crossing signals stock piled at various locations. They keep them around for spare parts in the event of traffic, storm, or vandal damage. A Federal Interstate highway does need to have the latest in crossing warning technology, but, a road such as a county township road can use warning devices that are 50 years old, as long as they are maintained and in good working order. Good question, and I can't believe I finally beat Hoghead to the answer here. He must be at work right now.

Answer 5

I am sure that if they aren't to old they may re use them , but most time I believe that they are being replace and the old one are being salvage for scrap

Answer 6

Old signals usually go to scrap or auction due to being out of date.  Newer signals will have larger lenses and better lighting and reflecting properties.

When the C&NW line from Hudson, WI to Superior, WI was ripped up in 1985, there were 3, 50' gondola cars literally filled to the top with old signals and associated signal boxes (railroad crossing sigs, semaphores, searchlight and vertical 3 light signals).  I asked the guys on the job where they were going and they said the scrap yard!

Answer 7

most are sold at auction.. often cheaper than if they are sold for scrap metal