With big thanks to Paul from the OERM in Perris, CA, I was able to see the inside of a relay case for the first time.

This was located at the Broadway 1 crossing A.K.A. the members crossing.

All images were taken March 12, 2005.

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I think the Arrowhead bottles either contain battery acid, or water to wash acid off of hands, or in worse cases: the eyes.

A motion detector from Harmon Electronics. Pretty cool machine, although I don't know what it actually does.

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I have no clue to what these are, or what they do.

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I have no idea what this is.

Looks like an AC converter, although I'm not sure of it's purpose.

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No clue as to what these do or are.

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This part is what makes crossing signals (not wigwags) flash. It's a WABCO D.C. flasher relay. Pretty cool.

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I think these "boxes" are batteries to keep this the crossing going in case of an power outage.

FYI: The batteries probably need to be replaced. They were hardly performing during a test.

Here's another close view of the flasher relay. This time it's in action.

The parts move from side to side, like a see-saw to make the lights flash. They also click when they move, kind of like if a magnet forcing them to move. That explains that time I heard clicking at the Garfield crossing at Freeland, MI.

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Here's a close-up of some data on the flasher relay. It was last serviced and checked in March, 1970!

There are other parts on this relay case that are even older than this flasher that still work!

Seeing that most of these parts are over 35 years old, I'm not sure if these are parts that are used on today's crossings, but if they are, it makes me wonder...

Once again, big thanks to Paul from the OERM. Without his help, and his willingness to show me two crossings at the OERM, none of these pictures would be possible.

If any other signal maintainers want to comment on these pictures, you're free to do so, without any hesitation.

Email me at smjh1979@cableone.net, and tell me your story.