Note: The following is a press release from the Saucon Rail Trail Oversight Commission.
The Saucon Rail Trail Oversight Commission has announced that they are soliciting funds to underwrite the cost of refurbishing and restoring the color light railroad signal located along the Saucon Rail Trail in Hellertown Borough.
Hellertown Public Works Director Tom Henshaw works to dismantle the historic railroad signal along the Saucon Rail Trail.
The signal, which was manufactured by the General Railway Signal Company, was installed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad between 1910 and 1920. It served as a northbound signal to alert engineers about the main track conditions and the upcoming siding which may have diverted trains to the former Thomas Iron Works site or to the Hellertown Rail Station that was located near Depot Street.
Volunteers from the Saucon Rail Trail Oversight Commission are beginning the first steps in the refurbishment project by disassembling and removing the individual parts of the signal and storing them indoors for the winter. Each part will be photographed, measured and analyzed to determine if it can be refurbished or will need replacement. This information will be shared with experts who can provide advice and direction on the fabrication, sanding and repainting of the signal equipment.
A portion of the historic railroad signal indicates that it was manufactured by the General Railway Signal Co. in Rochester, N.Y.
Initial funding toward the project has been made through donations from the Enot family in Hellertown. The team’s preliminary estimate is that the project will cost in the neighborhood of $5,000.
Donations for this project should be made payable to Saucon Rail Trail Oversight Commission, c/o Lower Saucon Township, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015, and should be designated for the “Saucon Rail Trail Signal Project.”
Donors will be recognized on the Saucon Rail Trail website.
