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These signs and graphics are more often found on buses, coaches, L and subway
trains, and sometimes even in the stations! The example above is from a Portland TriMet LRV car. Now, most transit buses use
digital type graphics. These signs were mostly silk screened reverse ink on linen or mylar or tyvek. At night or in darkened
applications, they were backlit by incanescent bulbs, or more recently flourescent tubes.
Some manufacturers of these signs and related products were Railway Utility
Company, H.K.Porter, Teleweld, McKenna Brothers, Norbert Brothers, Transign, Michigan Laser Graphics, Multiscreen, Multilite,
and Translite to name a few..
Do you have a sign collection, or just a piece of a rollsign or destination
board? We'd sure like to have you share your ideas and experiences with us. Are your signs rolled in storage, or do you have
boxes out on display? Join our discussion group on YAHOO!,and participate in the discussions...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/destinators/
| A set of destination signs on a NYC subway car. |
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| Cool, huh? |
Whatever the type of message and medium, the destination sign is
effective and useful if, and only if, it says to the person waiting to board, "Here I am and as soon as you see me you know
I'm what you are waiting for."
Transit vehicle destination signs perform two essential functions:
they provide information and they act as identifiers.
While transit properties across North America have adopted widely
variying sign philosophies, each uses its destination signs to perform one or both of these functions. Routes are generally
signed with a route number and /or letter combination, and with a route name or destination. Frequently, this information
is accompanied by "via" information, either on the destination sign itself or on a windshield or dashboard sign.
A very stable transit system can provide full information in a silk
screened, mylar type curtain sign, since its routes and destinations are fairly fixed.
While most of the information on this webpage relates to destination
signs for free-wheeling surface vehicles (motor bus, light rail, and trolley-coach, it is also applicable to heavy rail (subway)
service. At the very least, adequate destination signs in a rail system must provide reinforcement that the passenger is boarding
the correct train.
DESTINATORS is now sponsored by BUS BARN DOT
NET and BUS BARN MAGAZINE.
We may fearure other collector sites as well! Site still under construction.
More photos to follow -- soon.
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