Disappearing Wig-Wags

[Anonymous]

I've always been curious about why I'm seeing less and less of the
wig-wag-type crossing signals? From what I've heard they were and
still are more prevalent in the Northeast than elsewhere, and it's
been a long time since I saw one at a grade-crossing in the Midwest.
(I have seen them in Wisconsin and in Indiana, but not recently).

Is it because their mechanical design was too prone to failure and/or
they were too difficult to maintain? I know it's usually the case that the
state decides what type of crossing protection is to exist at every
public grade-crossing and then it's the RR's job to maintain them
(which burns me up every time I hear a TV story that blames the RR
for less-than-adequate signal protection after a grade-crossing
accident). Maybe fewer and fewer states are considering the wig-wag
design appropriate?

[Anonymous]

I think they are more prevalent in the far west. Almost all of them I remember seeing were along WP or SP lines (possibly DRG&W as well). The Espee used to have them everywhere. My understanding is that the moving parts made them more expensive to maintain and ultimately that plus some complaints about lack of visibility led to their demise.

LC

[mudchicken]

(1) The design is ancient.

(2) Many were placed in the middle of the road. Funny how frequently they seem to jump in front of cars and trucks minding their own business.

(3) Parts are impossible to come by for these old "mechanical flagmen"...They are museum pieces...

(*) There are still crossings out there still protected by crossbucks and a bell (no lights or gates) in several places I can think of....

(4) States allow much dumber motorists out on todays highways...

[banghead][banghead][banghead]

[mudchicken]

Seen the ruckus at Richmond, CA over the retirement of a wig wag in favor of new signal devices??????

[Anonymous]

I wish I could own one rather than see it scrapped!

[techguy57]

If you haven't already check out the following site:
http://www.trainweb.org/dansrailpix/WIG_WAG_PAGE1c.htm

I know there use to be wig wags down by Dugger, Indiana but I'm not sure if they are still there. I'll have to check next time I'm down there.

Mike

[kenneo]

What MC said and add liability. So-called deep pockets railroads. Add also FRA with rules about increasing protection and reducing crossings. It all adds up to the wig-wag going away.

Click-dong; click-dong; click-dong; click-dong; click-dong; click-dong; click-dong; click-dong; click-dong; click-dong;

[espeefoamer]

[:)]There is a wig-wag in Anaheim,Ca. at the corner of Lemon and Santa Ana Streets.The track runs down the middle of Santa Ana street for you street running fans![8D]

[Anonymous]

techguy57:

The web-site is terrific! The scenes from Wisconsin were mind-jarring indeed.
I went to Catholic school in Kansasville, Wis. and the shots of the old MILW line
through that crummy little berg brought back memories of the school bus I rode
every day bumping-over those same tracks and my always looking quick in both
directions to look for a train (don't recall ever seeing one - seems the MILW
always ran through when I wasn't looking).

[AltonFan]

There was a working wig-wag in or around Rockford, IL in Fall of 1981. It was probably on a former IC line.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Most wig-wags that I saw were in Wisconsin on CNW. An interesting variation on the wig-wag was a crossing signal I saw on some DMIR lines in the mid 1970's. The frame was similar to a wig-wag but had a standard octagonal stop sign mounted on a turntable instead. When a train activated the crossing circuit, the stop sign turned to face oncoming traffic.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken




(*) There are still crossings out there still protected by crossbucks and a bell (no lights or gates) in several places I can think of....


[banghead][banghead][banghead]

Out here in N. Ca. we still have a lot of rural farm grade crossings with crossbucks only, no bells anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I checked out the link posted on here. I had no idea that there were still wigwags in use today. It's too bad there aren't more of them. The only one I've seen in action was one at Heritage Park in Calgary, Alberta.

[Anonymous]

The Wig-Wag's and the loco's occelating headlights were both severe maintanance headaches. It's sad cause I liked them both.

[bnsfkline]

There are two active wigwags in Alton Illinois along mainstreet near the river front

[Paul W. Beverung]

There are two wig wags in operation at Six Flags over Texas. We also have three more in storage. They have been fairly dependable. Once we figured out what they needed in maintance.