| Above: Mr. Ford with a T-2 Semaphore Signal |
| Above: Mr. Ford with a T-2 Semaphore Signal |
I'd like you to meet E. E. Ford, BNSF (Burlington) signal maintainer.
Mr. Ford's father and grandfather were railroad employees. As a youngster, he had an interest in electric circuits, so his father got him a job with the signal department of the Burlington. In the early part of his career, he found himself digging trenches and having a coworker that witheld knowledge and refused to share his expertise. During those times, Mr. Ford learned what he did in spite of those tough conditions. He was helping to install crossing protection at formerly passive crossings in Minnesota, which at the time consisted of new crossbucks with eight-inch signal heads.
He remembers having a slight amount of work on semaphores as he progressed; however, among the things that seem interesting when looking back, he remembers working with wigwags, battery cells with caustic soda, and other now-fading types signal equipment more commonly than with semaphores. He also worked on many types of equipment that are still common today. His method of troubleshooting was different from that of his colleagues, and sometimes this helped him to find the cause of trouble when others couldn't. I believe that Mr. Ford retired from the BNSF in 1997.
Mr. Ford is a kind individual, and thinks more of people than of things such as trains or signals. He has sought a different approach from that of his coworker long ago: he shares his knowledge and friendship either professionally or with those who are just interested.
I first met Mr. Ford when he was still working for the railroad and I was about twelve years old. It was during the Haymarket Heydays in Lincoln, Nebraska--a popular annual celebration of the anniversary of the Burlington's arrival there. The Burlington Northern then participated by setting locomotives and other equipment out for public display around the CB&Q depot. In the passenger station, Mr. Ford had set up a table of switch lanterns, searchlight signals, CTC panels, and other such things in which I was (and still am) interested. I hung around for hours asking questions about railroad signaling, and came back year after year as I grew older to follow-up on the previous year's questions and ask new ones.
Although the Haymarket Heydays no longer has any significant elements of railroad participation, I still visit Mr. Ford on a somewhat regular basis. He is curator of a large collection of railroad artifacts and implements, including a selection of signaling equipment. He continues to be forthcoming in sharing knowledge. Much of the railroad signal information on this website comes from him, and for it I have him to thank.
| Above: Wigwag, train order signal, and railroad station in a park of Waverly, Nebraska. Mr. Ford said that his father's track crew laid the short piece of track in front of the station (not visible in picture) after his retirement from the railroad. Mr. Ford himself wired the wigwag so it could be operated from the station, although power was never made available. These antiques were on the grounds for many years, but have since been moved to a new location where they will enjoy better recognition and appreciation. |