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by **traffo101** on Sat Jul 13, 2013 11:11 pm

I had lived in Fort Mill, due south of Charlotte, for 10 months. While there, I made an interesting observation.

Most all of the signals in Charlotte proper are polycarbs. Anything larger than a three-light R-Y-G signal seems to have an aluminum red section. I have never seen this anywhere else, but almost everything--doghouses, four-light signals--is like this in Charlotte.

Any explanation on this?

by **signal man619** on Sat Jul 13, 2013 11:49 pm

It because of the weight of the additional heads. More of a chance of braking and falling.

YouTube · by **signal-in-the-box** on Sat Jul 13, 2013 11:53 pm

Probably to give the signal support, especially if hanging on a spanwire (no brackets so the whole thing is hanging by the top section). The aluminum sections are stronger than poly, as would be needed (or is just more practical) to support a 4 or 5 section signal.

by **TacomaJoe** on Sun Jul 14, 2013 1:43 am

Here in Tacoma, we're all aluminum, no poly. We're also 95% span wire so the heads need to hold up to swinging in the wind.

I'm thinking the poly folks have discovered that the head needs to be strong enough to hold up the ones below it. We're also an inline five city (no doghouse's here).

by **pyth** on Sun Jul 14, 2013 2:48 am

TacomaJoe wrote:Here in Tacoma, we're all aluminum, no poly. We're also 95% span wire so the heads need to hold up to swinging in the wind.

I'm thinking the poly folks have discovered that the head needs to be strong enough to hold up the ones below it. We're also an inline five city (no doghouse's here).

Funny you mention inlines over doghouses, Long Island is pretty doghouse-crazy so I was shocked when I found this:

This is over a major highway with like, trucks, big ones with trailers just passing under this inline, dunno who thought hanging the span wire extra high for this was a good idea

by **SignalLab** on Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:09 am

when jurisdictions began using all poly heads on spanwire, after a time the freeze-thaw-heat cycle (and UV beatdown) began to take its toll. Some jurisditions, went back to metal, others used the combination approach to (as others have alluded to) account for the tendency for the top section to breakaway. Florida revised their spec(in the early 80s)

(ahem Pete feel free to jump in here)

, requiring aluminum red sections for all span signals, as they top tether their heads. Companies such as Automatic (who also put a warning sticker inside the section), Eagle, and Kentron (the KMart of traffic signals :crazy:

-sorry couldnt resist the humor) developed reinforcing plates that even to this day are provided to mount on the inside and outside of the top and bottom of the red section and on a 5sect spectrum (doghouse), the top of the yellow sections. Of course even with these plates providing some security, I am sure many of us have seen a span mounted all-poly head swinging by its signal wire, while the reinforcing plate is firmly attached to the span via the hanger! Then it is time to call --->> :Phil:

by **wacase1964** on Mon Jul 15, 2013 10:46 am

What's the deal with the pedestrian signal. It looks like they have a 16 inch ped. mounted on top a 12 inch ped. They are both facing the same direction. Is the bottom 12 inch section a countdown unit ? :scratch:

I can't tell from the picture.

by **2070** on Mon Jul 15, 2013 11:04 am

pyth wrote:Funny you mention inlines over doghouses, Long Island is pretty doghouse-crazy so I was shocked when I found this:

This is over a major highway with like, trucks, big ones with trailers just passing under this inline, dunno who thought hanging the span wire extra high for this was a good idea

That was before the doghouse style. It looks to be an early 1970's install and 14' 6" - 15' 0" was the standard height back then, also. I got one of the inline 5 Econolites that was in Rockland County last year.

by **SignalLab** on Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:07 pm

2070 wrote:That was before the doghouse style. It looks to be an early 1970's install and 14' 6" - 15' 0" was the standard height back then, also. I got one of the inline 5 Econolites that was in Rockland County last year.

Yeah and a few very nice inline 12" Marbs too! :drool:

Pops was looking to load them up!

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