Do You Know What This Is and Where It’s Located in Portland?

This is object is located somewhere in Portland and years ago served a purpose. Today though it's outdated and not in use anymore. Do you know what it is and where in Portland it is?

This pole with a cross bar that has chains hanging down from it served a very practical use over 50 years ago.

You'll find this behind the St. John Street McDonald's hanging over our of service railroad tracks just before the railroad bridge that crosses over the intersection of St. John and Park Streets.

This is called a tell tale and back in the day was used to let brakemen and conductors who would be standing on top of train cars that a bridge or overpass was ahead with low clearance. If they weren't paying attention the chains would brush against them warning them to hit the deck.

This tell tale is over a what was called the Union Branch. This line tracks used to go across this bridge, behind Hadlock field, across Forest Avenue near Marginal Way, into the Bayside neighborhood back when it was scrap yards and industrial areas.

There are still many of these tell tales still in place. You'll find another one in route 196 in Lewiston as you approach the Maine Turnpike overpass. Those tracks, the Lewiston Industrial Branch or Lower Road are also no longer in use.

Next time you're driving next to railroad tracks, take a look near overpasses and bridges and see if you can spot any old tell tales.