Some time ago T Stage had inquired about wig-wag crossing signals on the New York Central. I recently purchased a video from an ebay seller and caught a glimpse of a scene showing proof of the signals in question. Everyone seems to be in agreement that at least this one example existed somewhere in the Toledo, or Sandusky, Ohio area (maybe on the Norwalk Branch? The "Old Road"?)
Discussion in the earlier thread seemed to conclude that eastern roads avoided wig-wags due to severe winter conditions causing maintenance headaches. They seemed to predominate in the west.
Here's a couple of screen grabs from the video (somewhat fuzzy, like pictures of the Loch Ness Monster) but proof just the same. SO go ahead and install your wig-wags, Tom!
Happy modeling, Ed
I'm not sure if eastern railroads were less likely to use wig-wags than western railroads?? It could be that's true, but it might just be that eastern railroads were quicker to convert to newer types of devices than the western roads.
A factor might also be that western roads had more remote, isolated crossings where they needed some sort of automated safety signals, compared to eastern roads in more populated areas where they had flagmen. Because of they needed more signals, maybe they were OK with leaving older ones in place longer as long as the old signals got the job done.
Here's a pair of wigwags still in operation four years ago. This is an old NYC line that ran across south-western Ontario ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBJhpVMuQ-s
Unfortunately, the wigwags AND the line have been abandoned and pulled up today. :(
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Hey Ed,
I really appreciate you posting these photos of the wigwag from the video. On your original captured photo from the video, are you able to get the road number(s) from the NYC GP7/GP9 that is whizzing by? The Photobucket overlay text is obscuring it enough to even make a good guess at it.
Thanks,
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Also, I can't believe that this thread is from 7 years ago. I guess time really is flying by quicker than I realize. I could have sworn you posted this back in 2019.
Yes, Tom, it sure does!
I've replaced hard drives three times since I grabbed those frames of blurry video. I have all my scans and photos on several external drives. I'll dig through them this evening. I'll also have to dust off the DVD tonight and run that scene by again. The original captures are pretty blurry but it looks like the one engine is GP7 5823.
I'll double check and report back.
Just another aggravation of the Photobucket Debacle!
Here's a couple of nice wigwags I came across at the NAPM layout:
Wig-Wag Crossing by NAPM Model Railroad Club, on Flickr
They might be models made by Showcase Miniatures but I can't say for certain.
Here's a 1940 booklet on the "workings" of the Magnetic Signal Co. Wigwag Flagman:
http://www.rrsignalpix.com/pdf/MagneticSignal1940_ocr_sec.pdf
Cheers, Ed
Thanks, Ed. And thanks for the booklet link! I'll definitely be downloading a copy of that for home...
Interestingly, when you click the images in the old post (with the Photobucket watermark) they open on my phone in pristine condition and can be zoomed.
The top locomotive as Ed says is clearly 5823. The bottom is blurred either in the original film capture or the transfer to VHS NTSC, but I think the third digit is 7. (One of the image-deconvolution algorithms might have enough to work with to recover the shape of the digits from the video frames...)
It had never occurred to me that some wigwags were more 'modern' than Holley Rudd's iconic two-lights-and-bell circa 1960.
All of the 'NYC' types pictured are of the 'three-position' type in Ed's reference. These appear highly modern compared to the 'iron flagman' kind of wigwag I normally thought of when someone mentions the type.
gmpullmanHere's a couple of nice wigwags I came across at the NAPM layout: Wig-Wag Crossing by NAPM Model Railroad Club, on Flickr They might be models made by Showcase Miniatures but I can't say for certain.
Those wigwags look to me to be the ones from American Limited, as I have two sets of them on my layout...
I also remember the wigwags on the CASO...that would have been in the late '50s or maybe very early '60s.
Wayne
I took another look at that brief scene in the video, Tom, and I can distinctly make out the lead engine as 5823 but the second unit is indiscernible. Overall it is a great DVD to have in a New York Central "reference" library. For me the scenes around the Cleveland Union Terminal coach yard are worth the price of admission!
https://trainvideodepot.com/DVD-New-York-Central-Steam-Diesel-&-Electrics-in-the-1950s-&-1960s_MLNYC
Regards, Ed
This is a funny remembrance for me, the lady I hired for doing Accounts Payable years ago, her husband was a signal maintainer for Conrail and took down the last Wig-Wags in Ontario, CA and took one home for his use. Wish I could have got one.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
gmpullmanI took another look at that brief scene in the video, Tom, and I can distinctly make out the lead engine as 5823 but the second unit is indiscernible. Overall it is a great DVD to have in a New York Central "reference" library. For me the scenes around the Cleveland Union Terminal coach yard are worth the price of admission! https://trainvideodepot.com/DVD-New-York-Central-Steam-Diesel-&-Electrics-in-the-1950s-&-1960s_MLNYC Regards, Ed
Will add that one to my NYC "to be purchased" bucket list, Ed - Thanks!
dti406This is a funny remembrance for me,
Missed opportunities, for sure —
Gathering of the Wigwags by Jeff Hampton, on Flickr
So it goes... Ed
I would have LOVED to have one of those...
DoctorWayne:
One of our club module corners, (the Arizona Corner) uses two of these wigwag crossing signals.
Showcase Miniatures is simply another option. I've built several of their designs and they are very well detailed.
https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/ho_scale/ho_scale_signals_wigwags_trackside_details/2190.html
https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/ho_scale/ho_scale_signals_wigwags_trackside_details/2306.html
https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/ho_scale/ho_scale_signals_wigwags_trackside_details/2311.html
Their parts for making operating semaphores are extremely well detailed.
Crossing_board-semaphore by Edmund, on Flickr
YMMV, Thanks, Ed
tstageI would have LOVED to have one of those...
Well, the photo below isn't of a wigwag, but the semaphore signals aren't too bad an option....
The structure is the former station at Jordan, Ontario, moved a block or two from the CNR mainline, and now used as a dwelling. It's oriented at about 90º to the CN track, which was double track, now a single line with passing sidings.