Allen County Museum
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L is for...
Lanterns and Lights: Before radios and computers were used by railroads, traffic control and movement was communicated through lantern signals. The way in which a lantern was held or waved relayed important information such as whether the train should slow down or stop. Lantern signals were especially important for communication between the train’s engineer and the brakeman in the caboose. Sound was also an important part of railroad communication. Can you guess what messages were sent by the train’s whistle?
Signalman's hand lantern.
United Transportation Union.
This luminous arc light was manufactured by General Electric and was used on cars of the Toledo and Indiana Railroad. The Toledo and Indiana Railroad was established in 1903 to provide passenger and freight service between Toledo and Bryan, Ohio. The small photo above next to the light is car #15 at the Delta, Ohio station in 1927.
