Spotted at the corner of Orchard and Allen... what is it?

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

I was walking this morning and noticed this little sign with an obscure glyph on it, screwed into the telephone pole at the corner of Orchard and Allen. I'm completely befuddled by what meaning it's intended to convey. Do any of you know?

Comments

[jere7my.livejournal.com]

"Caution: Railroad Crossing Overhead".

[frotz.livejournal.com]

I've seen something similar used to mark pole-based power cutoff switches. Does the pole have something like a locked handle halfway up that's connected to a long actuator rod to the top that's connected to what's basically a bank of knife switches that disconnect the power lines from one side from the other? (They're for isolating local parts of the power distribution network.)

[rmd.livejournal.com]

That was going to be my guess.

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

Okay. That's cool to know, though (in the end) somewhat less interesting than a skytram railroad crossing over my head...

Thank you!

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

It's a marker (http://www.almetek.com/popups/defectivepolemarker.html) for utility workers. This particular one appears to mean "Danger: Do Not Climb; Pole to Be Replaced."

It looks like an alchemical symbol, though!

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

You know, I was thinking the same sort of thing. It's an arrow, with an "x" over it, so "Don't go in the direction of the arrow". But I didn't think "up" I thought "Don't go to whatever location is in front of this sign".

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Thank you for that. Now I know and will no longer climb poles with that symbol ;)

[xuth.livejournal.com]

I'm amused, the ad copy for this says: They are UV stabilized for years of extended outdoor use and are available in aluminum or polyethylene including for signs indicating the pole needs immediate replacement. Presumably the sign could get reused though.