Milepost 32 - Signal Board

Mileposts on the Montour Railroad measured distance from Montour Junction, where mile 0 was the switch connecting the line with the P&LE in Coraopolis, and milepost 32 stood about 200 yards west of this location. As the railroad completed several realignment projects, the original mileposts remained in place, creating discrepancies in the new actual mileage, and railroad mileposts and trail mileposts therefore differ because of a different starting point and mileage changes from past railroad realignments. Signal boards gave engineers a visual cue to begin blowing their whistle or horn for a grade crossing, and, based on the normal train speed at each crossing, each board was placed at the proper distance to complete the warning signal before the train reached the crossing. Milepost 32 was seen from the main line in 1975 with Montour number 4's loaded yard in the background, and near Coverdale in Bethel Park a signal board protected the grade crossing at South Park Road in 1980.

Pennsylvania · United States