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Does any one know of a manfucaturer for working HO wig wags

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, April 26, 2020 8:45 AM

For you guys that use operating signals... Do you have a means to turn them off, or do they work all the time? It seems to me in out model railroad world they would activate very often as we run our trains.

-Kevin

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Posted by RR_Mel on Sunday, April 26, 2020 8:32 AM

I bought an American Limited non working wig-wag kit and I’m using it as a go-by to make my own brass working signals.  Very slow going, several years.  At first I was dinged by eye cataracts then by shaky hands.  I still pick away at it, maybe some day I’ll have an operating pair.  
 
 
 
Mel
 
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, April 26, 2020 5:21 AM

Complicating the whole issue of operating grade crossing signals is the use of gates. No one to my knowledge makes a "do it all" kit. You have to buy individual components and build the operating grade crossing signals yourself.

When I first got into HO scale back in 2004, I asked my LHS guys about a single kit and they just laughed. When you think about it, you need the wig-wag signals, alternating flashers, bells, and occupancy detectors. 

Rich

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Posted by Marc_Magnus on Sunday, April 26, 2020 4:44 AM

I'm not sure but it seems to me an article was published in MR (may be an another magazine, don't remember) about to make a working Wig Wag signals.

But I don't remember the year and the scale used

 

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Posted by tstage on Sunday, April 26, 2020 12:54 AM

I wish the NYC had used wigwags. Sigh  Obviously they are better suited for warmer and drier climates where snow and freezing rain is less likely to occur.  I just find them fascinating to watch, as well as unusual.  I also have a soft spot for ball signals.

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

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Posted by doctorwayne on Sunday, April 26, 2020 12:37 AM

mbinsewi
....I see that American Limited is no more....

Naw, they're still in business, as I bought enough diaphragms from them to equip a dozen passenger and baggage cars, only a few weeks ago.

Here's their static model of a wigwag....

...modified into a working one....

...by the "magic" of photography. WhistlingSmile, Wink & Grin

Wayne

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, April 25, 2020 9:56 PM

According to the ALM website they are still up and running, Mike.  They're just working a limited staff.  The working wigwag, however, is no longer available, which is a shame. Sad  The OP may be able to pick one up on eBay, should one become available.

Tom

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Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, April 25, 2020 9:40 PM

Ooops!  I didn't look that far, sorry.  And I see that American Limited is no more.

Mike.

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, April 25, 2020 9:35 PM

Mike,

Those are all static models; the price being the giveaway.  A working unit would be a lot more.

 

John,

I remember seeing a working wigwag on someone's layout (probably from an online video) but I don't recollect the manufacturer.  It was very cool and looked believeable.

[Edit: Looks like American Limited Models (ALM) made a working two-signal set at one time.  (See this link from Walthers website).  The ALM website only shows a static model available.]

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, April 25, 2020 9:30 PM

Check Ebay

Scroll down, there's more.

Mike.

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Does any one know of a manfucaturer for working HO wig wags
Posted by John Busby on Saturday, April 25, 2020 9:15 PM

Hi all

Does any one know of a manufacturer of HO scale working wig wag level crossing signals and the control circuit board to go with them.

I am running an analogue DC layout

So far all I have been able to find are kits for or ready made dummy wig wags

and I really want working ones.

regards John

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