View is looking south on Main Street in downtown

The movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” was set in the fictional town of Bedford Falls. Allegedly, the town was patterned after Cortland, a pleasant small city located between Syracuse and Binghamton. The city has some vintage signals that would date from the time the movie was made (around 1946).

The railroad crossing at Main and South, looking northward on 27 November 2002. Note the RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNS, and how they are mounted. Located by the left railroad crossing signal is a tall pole that may have served as a trolley wire pole. If so, this pole is at least 80 years old, perhaps more.