Could someone tell me about the light hanging from that back roof?
First, I would like to say, "What a great shot of the Toivola station!" For those interested in the light, suspended from the station, it is a Train Order Signal. Please note that there is a flat board suspended below the light and it is parallel to the tracks. It is hard to see at this angle. When the station agent had train orders for a train, the signal would be turned so that the board was crosswise to the tracks. The color of the board and the coresponding lens in the light would be red. In the position shown in the photograph the "red board" is not visable to an approaching train. The lens in the light would be visible, though, and it would be either green or white (clear). This indicated that this station had no orders and the train could proceed, if not otherwise required to stop, such as a passenger train schedule. The Copper Range Rules of the Operating Department, Rule 221 states "A fixed signal must be used at each train-order office, which will indicate "stop" (color red) when trains are to be stopped for train orders. When there are no orders the signal must indicate "proceed" (color green or white). An operator was further advised to turn the signal to "stop" the instant the telegraph began with the numbers 19 or 31, which heralded the beginning of a train order being sent to the station. Those of you more knowledgeable of the train order system will realize that on some roads, trains that had form "19" orders did not have to stop to recieve them. They were simply handed up to the crew by the agent; who stood close to the tracks. They would have received a "proceed with caution signal", which was often a semaphore blade held at a 45 degree angle. This was not part of the Copper Range Operating Procedures. Not a short answer, but it was just making use of those old rule books and a railroad certainly lives by its rules! - Tim Lab
I wonder what all of those signs on the depot say? Neat picture of the typical UP micro-town scene along the ROW. shawn in wyandotte