SignalTraffic Forums

Hello fellow signal nuts!

Don't Walk (a/k/a Chris McNally) is back!!! Straight from one of the greatest signal cities, Baltimore Maryland (the home of 10 Eagle 4-ways, countless finned Marbelites, about 20 art-deco CH heads, and three original GE roundbodies that the DTT missed when they replaced them all a few years ago, in addition to countless 1960's and 1970's-era Marbelites, Eagles, etc., and home to 3 Eagleuxes, about 15 double-guy wired installations from the 1950's and 1960's). I've been off the signal grid for a few years and so glad that my good buddy Francis K. invited me to join this forum. I wanted to tell you all that I've missed you, hope you all are doing fantastic, and cannot wait to start talking signals and getting my pics updated. This forum seems like a great forum and I'm looking forward to participating!

As far as signals in my world, I really haven't collected many new ones for a few years. I have a 4-section CH 4-way with walk lenses at the bottom that is controlled with a LTG controller that is super cool. I also have a CH art-deco pedestal with original CH junction box and pipe hardware supporting an art-deco with smileys and a walk/wait that is in storage (our house is up for sale and the real estate agent, darned them!, advised that I should "depersonalize" the house and that hte CH 4-way was "taking up too muc hroom." They just don't get it...anyway, I am without signals - the only one right now nearby is next to me on my desk at work, an old Marbelite Don't Walk.

As you all can probably see, I'm partial to ped signals. I grew up in Baltimore just at the end of the neon Don't Walk signals in the County and there were still a handful of original 1955 vintage neon ped heads in the city made by CH. I have a collection of about 10 signal heads (including an Eagle 8-8-12, Econolite Neon Don't Walk, an Eagle fiber optic, in addition to a Marbelite from NJ that I got from my man Francis K.

I also love traveling to the few remaining isolated places around that still have original stoplights (they are few and far between - even 5 years ago since then it seem that the DTT departments all over the country have relentlessly been replacing old signals. Sadly, Baltimore lost many old ones when they redid them all in LED lenses a few years ago (Francis and others got to see it before they changes and what fun!). I will be posting pictures and cool stuff along the way.

In a final note, I'm also a huge transit nut, and am very active with the Baltimore Streetcar Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. We have a CH 4-way that I helped to restore and a GE roundbody which is cool. I find that the best places to see old pictures of traffic lights (see the wallpaper on this site!) is old pictures of the streetcars.

I am looking forward to speaking iwth you all, sharing pics and good times! Thanks for letting me join!

best regards,
Chris M. a/k/a Don't Walk

Chris welcome back
Good to hear from you again!!!

Well AWRIGHT!! Chris is back! Hey man, where are you guys planning to move to..another part of Baltimore? Never mind newly-acquired signals, it's your lovely bride I need to meet!

PS - Chris is BACK!!!

Welcome back Chris.

Sorry to hear about the erosion of Baltimore's signal history. Has anyone tried intervening and saving some of these old Baltimore units from the scrapper?

Welcome back to the mix Chris!

Ian A.

EdT. wrote:Welcome back Chris.

Sorry to hear about the erosion of Baltimore's signal history. Has anyone tried intervening and saving some of these old Baltimore units from the scrapper?

Welcome back Chris! also I second Ed's question concerning the whereabouts of these fine pieces of city history....

Hey Chris,

Nice to see you back! Wow, how long has it been? I still watch in awe the Baltimore signal video you sent me..all the time! Great to see you have found it here.

signalfan wrote:Hey Chris,

Nice to see you back! Wow, how long has it been? I still watch in awe the Baltimore signal video you sent me..all the time! Great to see you have found it here.

VIDEO???? Chris can you post it in photobucket or YouTube sometime? Also look forward to your photos.
thanks again

Welcome back,

We need to have another street car meet like we did a few years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris,

Good to see ya here! Yes, Baltimore is one unique city in numerous ways, particularly signal-wise. Are there by chance any of the old WAIT WALK "ashtray" lens pedestrian signals in service anywhere? It would be fabulous to see any photos of those!!! Happy Thanksgiving.