Home > Overseas > USA > Manitoba Junction

MANITOBA JUNCTION
Northern Pacific Railroad

by John Hinson

Photograph 6/58, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour

A view from the platform at Manitoba Junction, looking along the Northern Pacific main line towards St Paul, past the signal cabin which was part of the station buildings. The station was situated between Detroit Lakes and Fargo, and was a junction for Winnipeg, across the Canadian border. Manitoba Junction was an exchange station only, and had no road access.

Photograph 6/58, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour

A westbound freight passing over the junction with the branch to the Canadian border.

There are a number of interesting signals in this picture:

• The train is passing a three-position semaphore, showing a caution indication (45º) which tells the driver that the next signal ahead shows stop. Lower down the same post is a smaller arm, which applies to diverging movements. (As signals automatically return to danger as soon as the train has passed, it is possible that the signal was actually in the process of lowering from clear to stop when the picture was taken.)
• Behind the train, for the opposite line, a three-position semaphore shows clear with the arm in the vertical position.
• In the foreground, suspended from the station roof, is a rotating signal of a type used by the Northern Pacific as an order board and as a block signal on single lines.
• Behind (and partly concealed) is a post carrying three position signals for eastbound departures from the westbound platform, but below these is mounted a smash board signal controlling movements from the branch onto the main line. These signals are so called because the signal fouls the line when at danger and would be "smashed" by a train that passed it at danger. There is also a trap point, or derail to prevent offending trains fouling the main line.

Photograph 6/58, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour

The cabin was provided with the ubiquitous US&S frame. The locking appears to covered by a tarpaulin, but of interest are the metal cases above connected by rods to the rockers. These are likely to be contact boxes controlling the electrically powered three-position semaphore signals.

About the photographs

Additional notes by Mike Brotzman.