In May 2022, Cascade Rail Foundation volunteers recovered the nearly intact Union Switch & Signal Style H-2 searchlight signal located approximately two miles east of Ralston. Since then, board member Mike Turcott has completely disassembled, cleaned, and repainted the signal. It is almost ready for installation back on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail at Ralston. We are still missing the pinnacle, the latch for the door on the back of the signal head and and an H-2 signal mechanism.
Refurbished signal cabinet
Refurbished signal mast
Site preparation at Ralston remains to be done. The concrete signal base is deteriorated and needs a new concrete pad for the signal to sit on. One of the threaded rods needs to be straightened and all four rods need to be rethreaded.
Ralston Signal Base
We anticipate completing this project in Spring of 2025. The signal will be in the same location as the signal being passed by the eastbound freight in the John Bjorkland photo below.
The signal will replace the one on the left in the historical photo
