<kuid:39134:100153> Grade Xing NRC Skull and Crossbones

Скачать

The Billups Neon Crossing Signal was a prototypical grade crossing signal installed at a dangerous Illinois Central crossing on Mississippi State Highway 7 in Grenada, Mississippi.

It was installed in the mid-1930s by inventor Alonzo Billups over growing concern due to numerous train versus motor vehicle accidents at the crossing. Like nothing before, the Billups signal was a large gantry spanning the highway and was likely the first such use of a gantry-style crossing of the type now in relatively common use. Upon approach of a train, a giant neon sign lit up with the words stop-death-stop beneath a lighted skull and crossbones in flashing red and blue neon. Flashing neon arrows indicated the direction of oncoming trains and a carter air raid siren in lieu of bells provided an audible warning. As a backup, standard railway flashers were mounted below the neon sign. The signal was known locally as the 'Skull and Crossbones.

The onset of World War II brought about a scarcity of neon which, when coupled with maintenance problems with the signal (often manifesting themselves in the siren going off and not shutting down until a crew arrived) meant that no further signals were produced. The prototype was removed after less than thirty years of service in the 1970's.

Alonzo wanted to sell more of these to the railroad but with a price tag of $40,000.00, a ton of money in the 30's, the idea never caught on.

This crossing is set up to be controlled with the ATLS system.