Saucon Rail Trail volunteers reported recently that rapid progress has been made on the refurbishment of a historic rail signal along the trail near Walnut Street in Hellertown.
Volunteers from the Saucon Rail Trail Oversight Commission take a break from their work for a recent photo.
According to a news release, Peter Jarrett and Roger Jurczak of the Saucon Rail Trail Oversight Commission recently power-washed and painted the signal pole using paint donated by Sherwin-Williams of Lower Saucon Township.
The signal parts–which were removed from the pole last year–have been sandblasted and painted according to their original Reading Railroad color scheme by Blastco of Quakertown.
“Miller Fabricating in Allentown is currently fabricating targets, brackets, eyebrows and light disks which will be taken to Blastco for painting,” the release said.
Roger Jurczak of the Saucon Rail Trail Oversight Commission paints the signal pole.
True Value in Hellertown has also lent a hand by supplying various nuts, bolts and screws that will be needed to help reassemble the signal as it was.
Replacement U-bolts are still being sought to attach the two large light assemblies to the pole.
The historic signal was installed along what was then the main line between Bethlehem and Philadelphia sometime between 1910 and 1920.
It was manufactured by the General Railway Signal Company and alerted engineers to track conditions as they approached a siding where trains may have been diverted to the Thomas Iron Works or the Hellertown train station on Depot Street.
The $5,000 restoration project is being funded by donations by trail enthusiasts and rail history buffs.
So far nearly $3,500–including a donation by the Enot family of Hellertown–has been raised.
Donations toward the refurbishment should be made payable to the Saucon Rail Trail Oversight Commission and designated for the “Saucon Rail Trail Signal Project.” Checks should be mailed c/o Lower Saucon Township, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015.
Donors will be recognized on the Saucon Rail Trail website.