RAILROAD SIGNALS of the U.S.

RAILROAD CROSSING GATES

This section briefly touches on grade crossing protection of all sorts, and is by no means comprehensive.  It combines all of the separate pages I previously had on these signals, sorry for it's size, (and it may get bigger).

For pedestrian crossing gates, click here.

Standard Crossing Gates

This section contains what we have come to expect as the standard grade crossing - crossing gate in the U.S.
A good picture resource on American grade crossings can also be found at: http://www.rxrsignals.net

Clifton VA - on the Southern Rwy (NS)

   
Located halfway between Fairfax and Manassas VA, is this quaint little spot called Clifton, contains a set of standard US&S crossing gates.  The left picture is the gate on the south side of the tracks, the other two are of the signal on the north side.

Wig-Wags

Wig-Wag signals were an early form of grade crossing protection for automobiles wishing to cross a railroad right-of-way.  In the early 1900's, as traffic volumes increased with both the railroads and automobiles, the number of grade crossing accidents rose, along with casualties.  The railroads attempted to produce some sort of signal that would alert drivers to the presence of an oncoming train.  The familiar "stop, look, and listen" signs were no longer effective once car manufacturers enclosed the car compartment, and hearing an approaching train became difficult.

HISTORY

According to Wikipedia, one of the earliest attempts to make a moving mechanical signal was by Pacific Electric of Los Angeles.  They reasoned that the familiar grade crossing attendant, making a swinging motion with his lamp to alert motorists, was a good choice, and developed a machine that would simulate that motion.  The first version used gears and was made in house, and was difficult to maintain.  They eventually decided to use two electro-magnets to pull the banner back and forth, which also allowed the banner to sit "in the middle" when at rest.

Wig-Wags were made by a number of manufacturers: WRRS (Western Railroad Supply), Magnetic Signal Company, and US&S.

Someone in L.A. probably saw the signals on the PE, and decided to capitalize on the "success" of the design.  My guess is that the Pacific Electric, being a transit company, probably wasn't overly concerned with filing a patent on their creation.  (Don't quote me on this, it's only conjecture).  So, the Magnetic Flagman company was originally based in Los Angeles.  After WWII, the company was bought by the Griswold Company of Minneapolis.  Models made in Minneapolis are rare today.

There are three predominant styles of wig-wags: 1) upper quadrant, 2) lower quadrant, and 3) enclosed.  Enclosed wig-wags were also called "banjo's".  With upper quadrant wig-wags, the banner sat above the motor housing, and required the use of a counter weight below the motor to bring the banner to rest in the middle.  A lower quadrant wig-wag had the banner hanging from the motor housing, and as such, did not require the use of a counter weight to hang in the middle when at rest.  "Enclosed" wig-wags were top-of-mast style signals, where the motor was supported by a "harp".

 
(L) An "enclosed" WRRS wig-wag in my backyard signal graveyard.
(R) A lower quadrant Magnetic Signal wig-wag in Ashland Oregon, photo by Robert Ashworth

Most wig-wags were single units, a few double wig-wags did exist however.  The last one I know of was in Roseburg Indiana, as shown below.  Photo by Aaron Border, and was taken around the time I stopped thru town chasing the GP-30's of the Central of Indiana RR.  Roseburg is east of Kokomo.

  A rare double lower-quadrant wig-wag in Roseburg IN

If you look hard, you may still be able to find one still in operation, but they are becoming increasingly rare, and can usually only be found on less used tracks.

The N&W used to have hundreds of wig-wags in use, most apparently from WRRS.  Most were gone by the late 70's, with a few surviving in the early 80's.  The last one may have been in Copenhaver (from a thread on N&W wig-wags).

One very interesting use for wig-wag signals is contained below in the link to the Santa Fe Historical Society's page on wig-wag's used on that railroad to communicate to the engineer a highball condition or a stop condition, check it out!  This was before the days of radio.

For more information, and pictures, check out these resources:
Dan's Wig-Wag site:  http://www.trainweb.org/dansrailpix/WIG_WAG_PAGE1c.htm
Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigwag_(railroad)
The South Bay Historical Railroad Society's wig-wag: http://www.sbhrs.org/museum/Artifacts/Wigwag/wigwag.html
The Santa Fe's Historical Society's page on wig-wags used on cabooses: http://www.atsfrr.net/resources/Sandifer/WigWag/Index.htm
N&W Historical Society thread on wig-wags: http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/Week-of-Mon-20060904/004971.html
A wig-wag in Ashland OR, and other stuff by Robert Ashworth: http://www.theslowlane.com/04trip/wigwag.html

WRRS Wig-Wag, on display in Durand Michigan in the railroad park.

               
          

CLICK HERE for my railfan guide to Durand.

WRRS Magnetic Autoflag Wig-Wag in my backyard

This signal came off the CNW in Wisconsin, and was purchased from a railroad museum in western Wisconsin in 2000.

For more pix of WRRS wig-wags, check out Dan's page at: http://www.trainweb.org/dansrailpix/WIG_WAG_wrrs1.htm

Rotating Banners

Burnsville MN area

Grade crossing at 155th St W and Kenwood Trail.... 1/2mi north of 162nd St W, which is exit 86 off of interstate 35.  The old station is still standing (or should I more correctly say "shelter").

Misc Grade Crossing Protection Devices

Elliston VA

This grade crossing signal protects a private grade crossing on the Norfolk Southern (ex N&W), between Salem and Christiansburg VA.  As the sign says, the lamp goes dark when a train is approaching.  Salem is to the left (to the north), and Christiansburg to the right.  The signal heads are PL heads off of a standard Pennsy and N&W style PL signal.

A lot of good action shots of NS coal freights can be had in this great railfanning area!  My daughter went to Virginia Tech, and it provided me the opportunity for a lot of good opportunities.  This signal can be found on my Salem to Christiansburg VA chase map, located here, which is part of my Roanoke railfan guide series, check it out!

NEW 10-22-2006
Last Modified 29-Jan-2011