wb4uhb's Photobucket Panama Canal Signals album media

Back view & mounting detail of beacon fixtures at Atlantic end of Panama Canal

wb4uhb — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:18:04 MST

wb4uhb posted a photo

Back view & mounting detail of beacon fixtures at Atlantic end of Panama Canal - 100_0620.jpg

GE was the original electrical contractor, and these these fixtures resemble catalog pictures of GE fixtures of that era, so these might well be original equipment about 80 year old. If so, how did they survice so long on that flimsy mounting?

Beacon at the Atlantic side locks

wb4uhb — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:11:12 MST

wb4uhb posted a photo

Beacon at the Atlantic side locks - UnknownSignalSection-1.jpg

These are big boxy, almost homemade-looking things that I believe may be original GE units from when the canal was first built. GE was the electrical contractor for the canal, and these fixtures resemble GE fixtures from that era.

Beacon Fixture at Pacific locks of Panama Canal

wb4uhb — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:45:59 MST

wb4uhb posted a photo

Beacon Fixture at Pacific locks of Panama Canal - 100_0449.jpg

Beacon fixture on Pacific Locks of Panama Canal

wb4uhb — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:41:12 MST

wb4uhb posted a photo

Beacon fixture on Pacific Locks of Panama Canal - 100_0446.jpg

These fistures look newer than the corresponding ones on the Atlantic side, and appear to be more securely mounted. Perhaps the original ones were lost in a Pacific storm?

Closeup of Signal Mechanism

wb4uhb — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:37:23 MST

wb4uhb posted a photo

Closeup of Signal Mechanism - 100_0435.jpg

Note neon tubes. The motor can move the arrow sign to the left or right.

Traffic signal for ships (2)

wb4uhb — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:31:38 MST

wb4uhb posted a photo

Traffic signal for ships (2) - 100_0338.jpg

This signal is at the Pacific approach to the Panama entrance. It has directed our ship to the left hand lock. (At that moment, both sides of the lock were being used in the eastbound direction) Moments after I snapped this picture, the arrow swung to direct the next ship to the right.

Traffic Signal for Ships

wb4uhb — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:26:17 MST

wb4uhb posted a photo

Traffic Signal for Ships - 100_0332.jpg

These moveable neon-lit arrow signs are at eack lock in the Panama canal to direct ships to the desired lock (right or left)