The New Haven RR Image Page -- Right of Way Signs

THE IMAGE PAGE

The 'image page' is where we put a changing variety of New Haven Railroad artifacts for you to enjoy. Be sure to check back here often because we refresh these images on a regular basis.

Right of Way Signs

February 1st, 2001

Over the years, the New Haven Railroad used a number of different styles of signs along its right of way. Such signs were used to mark railroad property ("Private Property"), proscribe behaviors ("No Parking"), warn the public of potential hazards ("Danger High Speed Trains"), and present information to railroad workers ("Structures Along This Track Will Not Clear Man On Top Or Side Of Cars"). If you look carefully along the former New Haven Railroad's right of way, you can still find a few of these old signs in place. In most cases, they are in deplorable condition, having been neglected for over 30 years. All signs from the collection of Marc Frattasio.

The earliest signs were made of wood. Of standard design, they were about 38" wide by 26" high and 2" thick. The signs were built up from many pieces of wood and often had a separate beveled border. The lettering was usually stamped into the wood to make the signs easier to repaint.

Sheet iron signs replaced wood during the 1940s and 1950s. Again of standard design, they were about 36" wide by 24" high and 1/8" thick. The signs were usually painted using the silk-screen method with white paint applied first as a base coat and black paint applied on top.

Smaller sheet iron signs, about 18" wide and 12" high, were often used at public areas such as passenger station parking lots during the 1940s and 1950s.

During the 1960s some signs utilized 3M's "Scotchlite" reflective material. Such signs were made of sheet aluminum, 24" wide by 24" high. The reflective "Scotchlite" was bonded to the aluminum using a special press at the sign shop in New Haven, CT and the lettering was applied using the silk-screen method. Very few reflective right of way signs (like this example) were marked with the railroad's name, initials, or logo.