In June, 2007 Ms. Peggy Baltar of Weed, CA generously donated a complete semaphore signal set to us! Ms. Baltar's husband, Harold, had worked as a signal maintainer for Southern Pacific, and then Union Pacific, until his untimely death several years ago. In fact, for many years, during the 1970s, the Baltar family lived in railroad housing right at Black Butte siding!

These classic "style B" semaphores once were widespread along the SP in this region. In fact, some of the last operating mainline semaphores were on the Central Oregon and Pacific, (the former SP "Siskiyou" line), and were just retired in early 2007. The semaphore donated to us was out of service for many years but may well have been located at or near Black Butte back when it was operational.

We moved and mounted the signal mast next to our Black Butte "yard shack" in late June. We hope to begin restoring it in the near future. Below are a few pictures showing how the semaphore was placed where it is now: