Bradford in Miami County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Reading the Signs
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, September 13, 2022
1. Reading the Signs Marker
Railroad signals come in many different forms. Here are a few types you can see at B.F. Tower.
Position Light Signal
Position light signals; introduced by the Pennsylvania railroad in 1915, use rows of high-intensity lights to communicate track conditions. These rows mimic the positioning of the semaphore blades. The bulbs were yellow, which was determined through trial and error to be the easiest color to see in all weather conditions.
Dwarf Position Light Signal
These smaller signals were used as route indicators in slow speed areas, like this busy junction.
Semiphore
The semaphore was the first electrified railroad signaling system. Originally, the position of the blade was the sole source of information. Railroads soon added green, yellow, and red lenses rotating over a single white bulb to make these signals easier to read at night.
Grade Crossing Signal
Youre probably familiar with this warning signal. Look for it at grade crossings, where railroads intersect with roads. About 30 seconds before a train approaches, red lights and a bell warn you to stop and wait for the train to pass.
Topics.
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Location. 40° 7.848′ N, 84° 25.533′ W. Marker is in Bradford, Ohio, in Miami County. It is on East Main Street east of Williams Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker stands in Bradford Y Yard Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 E Main St, Bradford OH 45308, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Dayton Metro, in the Miami Valley, and in the Till Plains. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Signs of the Times (here, next to this marker); All Clear at BF Tower (a few
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, September 13, 2022
2. Reading the Signs Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2022, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 215 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2022, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
