In early August I had some other signal enthusiasts come up for the weekend and we took a ride through Utica and Rome to see what we could see. Saw some trains, a centuries old train station, lots of old traffic signals, and a 2 alarm fire. We saw a lot of stuff so this will be a 2 part write up.
First stop was the Rome Train Station on Martin Street in Rome, NY
About the station:
The current station was built between in 1912 by the New York Central Railroad south of the city to replace the former structure downtown. Such a move was necessitated by a track realignment.
The station has an unusual configuration because the building is located at grade while the tracks are on a raised embankment. The low-level platform is accessed by an under-track passage, though part of that is now closed due to a partial ceiling failure. Both were constructed in 2002. A side platform, now abandoned, is accessed directly from the building’s second story. The platform includes enclosed passenger shelters and is heated to make snow removal unnecessary.
It’s a beautiful building that has undergone extensive renovations. The same thing happened to Union Station in Utica, NY. With the exception, it is a county owned property and they have moved many offices there such as the DMV and some County Offices to get people in the building. It’s also a bigger stop for Amtrak. It’s a shame there can’t be something like that in Rome too.
Corner of West Thomas and North Madison Streets Rome, NY. The 3 sections on the 4 way here has adopted a green section to make their family complete.
Location
Saw this signal last year also. Corner of North Madison Street and Elm Street in Rome. Looks like it may have gotten smacked when they were repaving the road. Last year one of the yellow doors was open too. Thats closed at least.
Location
This Crouse Hinds Deco is in kinda good shape. It’s been repainted many times and think it could have been yellow at some point. Only issue is one of the pipes has broken and the only thing holding up the one side is the bottom bracket and the wires. Please dont fall!!
This Marbelite cabinet is in great shape. Of course, we put our ears to the door to see if were hear anything. We didn’t so can be assumed it’s been stripped out and some electronic gizmo runs this intersection now.
The Mill Street Arch Bridge under the CSX Tracks. Or from Bridgehunter.com Closed-spandrel arch bridge over Mill Street on CSX Railroad. I love old bridges also.
This bridge was built in 1911 by the New York Central Railroad. The left side looking at it here was larger than the left. Left side was built for cars/horse and buggies or whatever was used as a mode of transportation in 1911. The right side was for either a trolley of some sort. In the ceiling you can see the mounting points for whatever held up the wire for the electric trolley.
The posted height is 10 feet for clearance here also. There are 2 more bridges that are only 1 arch in succession to the west of here.
The bridge used to have 4 tracks on it and now 2 currently pass on it. It’s also in pretty rough shape. The city has been after CSX who owns it now to fix it up. As you can see by the photos below, it’s in fair shape now. The inside has been fixed at some point but it’s starting to fall apart again.
With some rehab, this bridge can be able to last many more years. Hopefully the railroad will do something before it is too late.
The Lawrence Street Bridge is approx 1/4 mile to the west of the Mill Street Bridge. This one is in a little better shape actually. The inside is pretty good. The outside is starting to fall apart, but it’s 108 years old.
Doubt much maintenance gets done anymore since Lawrence Street used to cross the Barge Canal but that was cut off in the late 1960’s with the New Road just to the east.
That concludes the Rome, NY part of the signal meet. Next up will be the Utica Tour soon.
Tony's Traffic Light Site 
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