Here’s a question for you all… Does any one know how many wig-wags remain in service in the u.s.a? I was lucky enough to stumble across one in Manzanola, Colorado last year but it has since been removed. Thankfully, I shot plenty of video before it was removed. Incredibly, the BNSF left it up for a short time ( still operating) after the new gates and lights were installed, which really made a wonderful video.
for the new people I have seen on the forums who may not know what a wig-wag is, it is an early railroad crossing device that has a bell and a round disk. as the train approaches, the disk swings back and forth and the bell is activated. some have lights as well.
I have a video that shows a wig-wag in Carlisle KY. I remember in the 80’s seeing it and one in Millersburg KY also. After TTI took the line and fixed it up they took them down. My only regret was not getting photos of them. Didn’t take much photos then, wasn’t even a teenager yet. I had always been curious what could have happened to them, if they were scrapped or maybe got into the hands of a collector or museum.
Brian (KY)
There was a wig-wag on US Hwy. 169 north of Cherryvale, KS before getting to US Hwy. 400. It’s been a long time since I’ve been down that way, but I’ll let you know someday if I ever get back down that way. I recollect that it was still present through at least the mid-1990s. If a RR line still operates there it would be the South Kansas & Oklahoma (SK&O).
There are two working wig-wags in southern Wisconsin. One of them is on the Wisconsin and Southern at Lima Center which is about 10 miles southwest of Whitewater, WI.
The second is on what was once the route of Milwaukee Road “Southwest Limited”. However this line is now a branchline on the Canadian Pacific which might see a train once a week. The wig-wag signal is in Kansasville, WI which is about 25 miles west of Racine, WI. I was there recently the signals had just been repainted.
Keith Schmidt
www.geocities.com/kaschmidt626/index.html
I don’t of any on the RR’s, but I did know this racey little Wig Wag in South Texas many years ago[:D]
I believe there are some remaining in California and also some on the ex-SP lines now run by RailAmerica in Oregon (CORP). One is pictured in the current issue of TRP Magazine (p53) in Dillard, OR on the CORP.
LC
[}:)] That was Houston Ed before he met his wife![}:)]
There also used to be a fair number of grade crossings protected by a signal that had a yellow Stop sign that would revolve to face traffic with a train was coming. I suspect like wigwags that the moving parts needed lots of attention and after a while new parts were not to be had. Its been years since I one in working order.
Dave Nelson
The last time I was in Wausau, WI there was still one at South 2nd. St. and Business Rt. 29 in town. Jim
i have read articles that called them ‘banjo-signals’
I remember seeing a wig-wag signal in Rockford, IL, ca. Fall, 1981. I do not remember the exact location, only that it was in the city itself, and I think it was on the Illinois Central.
Don’t know if it’s still there.
We had several in Fond du Lac, WI on the old CNW/FRV/WC on the Airline route to Milwaukee, but they were removed after the route was abandoned a few years back. One was donated to the local historical society.
I believe there is still one north of FDL in Van Dyne, WI, which protects a farm road from the CN/exWC.
Here’s a question for you all… Does any one know how many wig-wags remain in service in the u.s.a? I was lucky enough to stumble across one in Manzanola, Colorado last year but it has since been removed. Thankfully, I shot plenty of video before it was removed. Incredibly, the BNSF left it up for a short time ( still operating) after the new gates and lights were installed, which really made a wonderful video.
for the new people I have seen on the forums who may not know what a wig-wag is, it is an early railroad crossing device that has a bell and a round disk. as the train approaches, the disk swings back and forth and the bell is activated. some have lights as well.
I have a video that shows a wig-wag in Carlisle KY. I remember in the 80’s seeing it and one in Millersburg KY also. After TTI took the line and fixed it up they took them down. My only regret was not getting photos of them. Didn’t take much photos then, wasn’t even a teenager yet. I had always been curious what could have happened to them, if they were scrapped or maybe got into the hands of a collector or museum.
Brian (KY)
There was a wig-wag on US Hwy. 169 north of Cherryvale, KS before getting to US Hwy. 400. It’s been a long time since I’ve been down that way, but I’ll let you know someday if I ever get back down that way. I recollect that it was still present through at least the mid-1990s. If a RR line still operates there it would be the South Kansas & Oklahoma (SK&O).
There are two working wig-wags in southern Wisconsin. One of them is on the Wisconsin and Southern at Lima Center which is about 10 miles southwest of Whitewater, WI.
The second is on what was once the route of Milwaukee Road “Southwest Limited”. However this line is now a branchline on the Canadian Pacific which might see a train once a week. The wig-wag signal is in Kansasville, WI which is about 25 miles west of Racine, WI. I was there recently the signals had just been repainted.
Keith Schmidt
www.geocities.com/kaschmidt626/index.html
I don’t of any on the RR’s, but I did know this racey little Wig Wag in South Texas many years ago[:D]
I believe there are some remaining in California and also some on the ex-SP lines now run by RailAmerica in Oregon (CORP). One is pictured in the current issue of TRP Magazine (p53) in Dillard, OR on the CORP.
LC
[}:)] That was Houston Ed before he met his wife![}:)]
There also used to be a fair number of grade crossings protected by a signal that had a yellow Stop sign that would revolve to face traffic with a train was coming. I suspect like wigwags that the moving parts needed lots of attention and after a while new parts were not to be had. Its been years since I one in working order.
Dave Nelson