I have a dumb question. I've always wondered this, but what exactly are tell tales and how to they function? I know what they look like, but what is the purpose for these? Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Jenkins
As I understand it, they are a warning for a man wakling/riding the roofwalk on a car that a low clearance area is approaching. It is better to get hit in the head with a chain (or whatever else was hanging below the bar) than a tunnel portal. Paul
Paul is describing the use of telltales exactly. Take a look at these two pictures from Cape Girardeau. The telltales were not on the Frisco, but the MoPac spur, formerly the Cape Girardeau Northern - one of Louis Houck's railroads. They guarded the viaducts under Morgan Oak and Good Hope Streets.
Telltales were installed in Tulsa east of the overpasses at the Union Depot. I don't remember any on the west end, but they were probably there also. The ones on the east end were still in place when I hired out in 1971. Those bridges were low (1930ish clearances), and the telltales served their purpose well. Terry
Keith, those are neat photos. I can remember when they filled in the old Houck line "cut." While not serving quite the same purpose, a modern-day version of tell-tales are being installed in Indonesia in order to deter "train surfing." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16596181 Best Regards,
Ok, thanks for the answers. I might add a couple to my layout when it gets underway. Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Millican
