Re: First Picts from Osier

The Square Nail Gang's inspiration for the old Newton Train Order Signal (sometimes refered to as a "Swift" signal) came about four years ago when we discovered the photos on page 171 of Dick Dorman's The Chili Line. Who would have thought from the title that there were chapters devoted to the Cumbres Pass Line?
The upper right photo is a puzzlement. Dick dates it at 1940-1945, but according to John Norwood there was no telegraph operator at Osier after the Great Depression. However the light color of the building indicates that it came from a later period.
The Newton was the only signal used at Osier from perhaps the 1890s to 1940. These were supplanted by the block or "semaphore" type signals (like the one at Cumbres) at other locations.
I went to the CRRM to study the one they have displayed above their operator's station. I found some Newton company drawings in the library. Last October John & Ted Norcross came out and made some detailed drawings. John manufactured this replica from scratch using some spider gears from an old Ford rear end. I bought an old turn of the century Adlake switch lantern and John attached it to the top. It all works as advetised!
Now next year we would like to put up a telegraph pole an string some of the discarded wire into the station. A fully realistic telegraph operator's display in the station is a possibility in the future.