I just came across this and used to work for a distributor of traffic signals and wired control cabinets in Northern Virginia. We distributed Traffic Control Technologies (old Crouse Hinds). Noticed the CH logo on the controller and the TCT logo on the catalog sheet. Thanks for the memories and also going over electromechanical operation. Your video was 12 years ago and just 2 years ago I came across a still functioning e/m controller in a small southern VA town. I was amazed that any were still around. 👍🏻
Stop, says the red light, Go, says the green. Wait, says the yellow light, twinkling in between. KNEEL, SAYS THE DEMON LIGHT WITH IT'S EYE OF COAL. SAURON KNOWS YOUR LICENSE PLATE AND STARES INTO YOUR SOUL.
That video is from around 1990... I can't really remember. They were a nice new pair that I borrowed from the contractor who takes care of the signals here in Toronto.
I just came back from Montreal, and they still have these mechanical control boxes in Downtown. Almost every intersection I saw (or heard I guess) (except for one) had a mechanical box.
I don't see what you're seeing, but I never noticed that car going through the red light before! At the time, that was one of Toronto's most complex intersections, with the two cross streets being offset by a hundred feet or so.
Although it is obsolete nowadays, the electro-mechanical controller is rather interesting in many ways. One could find many that are still in service (for now) in the city of New York, however, down the road, the survivors will be replaced with modern, computerized signal controllers.
acmeschool thanks for taking me back to my obsession that I had at only 2 years old & showing me how it actually works. Funny story to add, once when I was 2 years old I think I remember I would not go to sleep 1 night until my Mom called the State Highway Administration for them to go out & fix the light late in the morning on Singer Road in Abingdon, Maryland, so My Mom had to drive me out there just to see if they had fixed the light just so I would go to sleep. Crazy story isn't it?
Winnipeg, Manitoba still has Eagle Signal electro-mechanical relays for intersections in residential areas. You can view a UA-cam video of this by entering: Winnipeg Traffic Signals in the Search window. Vancouver, B.C. had this type of control until 1985. I once saw a police constable walk up to an old control box of non-functioning signals, give it a kick with his boot and immediately everything started working again!
In some places they put a filter over the green lamp so you can't see it until you are right on top of it, and unfortunately this trains people to just go when they don't see any lights, and some day they'll be at an intersection that lost power and they'll kill someone
In Toronto, almost every signal has metal-detector loops under the street, and is in communication with a central computer. The intersections all have pedestrian pushbuttons as well, in case someone wants to cross when there is no traffic sitting on the detectors.
I just came across this and used to work for a distributor of traffic signals and wired control cabinets in Northern Virginia. We distributed Traffic Control Technologies (old Crouse Hinds). Noticed the CH logo on the controller and the TCT logo on the catalog sheet. Thanks for the memories and also going over electromechanical operation. Your video was 12 years ago and just 2 years ago I came across a still functioning e/m controller in a small southern VA town. I was amazed that any were still around. 👍🏻
I really like how he explains this seemingly simple (yet very complex) process so thoroughly, very cool.
That comment was made in 1990! Now, twenty years later, we see burned out signals in Toronto as well, along with more potholes...
I don't know about the US, but here in Toronto, the mechanical ones are all gone. The video is from about 1991.
Stop, says the red light,
Go, says the green.
Wait, says the yellow light, twinkling in between.
KNEEL, SAYS THE DEMON LIGHT
WITH IT'S EYE OF COAL.
SAURON KNOWS YOUR LICENSE PLATE
AND STARES INTO YOUR SOUL.
That video is from around 1990... I can't really remember. They were a nice new pair that I borrowed from the contractor who takes care of the signals here in Toronto.
I just came back from Montreal, and they still have these mechanical control boxes in Downtown. Almost every intersection I saw (or heard I guess) (except for one) had a mechanical box.
Amazing video on traffic lights showing all the technical details and usage. Keep on sharing such kind of clips.
When Chuck Norris is at a pedestrian crossing, the traffic has to stop, look and listen.
In my town, Perth Western Australia, this type of controller was completely removed by 1977
I don't see what you're seeing, but I never noticed that car going through the red light before! At the time, that was one of Toronto's most complex intersections, with the two cross streets being offset by a hundred feet or so.
Although it is obsolete nowadays, the electro-mechanical controller is rather interesting in many ways. One could find many that are still in service (for now) in the city of New York, however, down the road, the survivors will be replaced with modern, computerized signal controllers.
I miss this show it was a good back in the day.
acmeschool thanks for taking me back to my obsession that I had at only 2 years old & showing me how it actually works. Funny story to add, once when I was 2 years old I think I remember I would not go to sleep 1 night until my Mom called the State Highway Administration for them to go out & fix the light late in the morning on Singer Road in Abingdon, Maryland, so My Mom had to drive me out there just to see if they had fixed the light just so I would go to sleep. Crazy story isn't it?
Winnipeg, Manitoba still has Eagle Signal electro-mechanical relays for intersections in residential areas. You can view a UA-cam video of this by entering:
Winnipeg Traffic Signals in the Search window. Vancouver, B.C. had this type of control until 1985. I once saw a police constable walk up to an old control box of non-functioning signals, give it a kick with his boot and immediately everything started working again!
this is a classic.
In some places they put a filter over the green lamp so you can't see it until you are right on top of it, and unfortunately this trains people to just go when they don't see any lights, and some day they'll be at an intersection that lost power and they'll kill someone
It wasn't shot in the 70s, as if you had listened, he talks about "back in 1980".
In Toronto, almost every signal has metal-detector loops under the street, and is in communication with a central computer. The intersections all have pedestrian pushbuttons as well, in case someone wants to cross when there is no traffic sitting on the detectors.
I have seen plenty burned-out traffic lights.