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Letters Archives

Feb 2000-April 2000

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Illinois and Wisconsin...             4/28/00
Dan,

Just thought I'd let you know about a thread concerning wig-wags on the
Eastern board at trainorders.com. Posts there mentioned wig-wags at Galena, IL
and Sheboygan Falls, WI that you don't have listed. I know that both
Illinois Central (Galena) and Chicago & North Western (Sheboygan Falls)
were both big users of wig-wags. The first one I ever saw in person was at
Cecilia, Kentucky on the old IC line from Paducah-Louisville mainline, and that
line had lots of Western Railway models in both cantilever style (a lot like SP)
and "peach basket" style, except that the WRRS used a diamond shape for its
supports instead of the sort-of-octagonal style favored by Magnetic.
(These wig-wags were all removed from service not long before the line was
sold to regional Paducah & Louisville.) I last saw examples
of the latter in Oshkosh, WI at the U.S. 43 crossing of the Wisconsin Central
(ex-CNW), and in several locations on a former CNW line in Waukesha, WI, in 1995.

Thought you'd like to know.

Robert Carter
Birmingham, AL

If anyone has more info and photos of those wigwags mentioned, please send them to me
so I can add these to the Master List. -DF
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Latest word from CORP...                                   4/19/00

The end is near for our friend. If you happen to go by the Three
Pines Rd. Wigwag you will see that there are locates marked at the
crossing. Brotherton Pipeline will be boring two 3" conduit under
the road very soon, probably no later than next week. After the
conduit is installed, I will begin work on installing the new gates
and lites. The electricians are suppose to be arriving on the
property to install the new meters at the Three Pines Rd. along with
the new signal locations sometime this week or next week. I hate to
say this, but I'm guessing the wigwag only has about another month of
service. I haven't heard what is going to happen to it yet. I'm
sure it will be sold, but don't know who to. We have received a
couple of letters of interest, so I'm sure it will go to one of those
parties, probably whichever letter was received first.

Rick Perry
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Massachusetts Wigwag...            3/28/00
Hi there,

There is one  that is still in use at Edaville Railroad in S. Carver
Ma. Edaville is a 2 foot gauge railroad in South Eastern Mass.  It has a 5
mile loop of track through cranberry bogs.  The wigwag signal is still in
operation.  It is on one of the road crossings.  Yes Edaville is still
in operation and will reopen for the season on May 19th, 2000  The next time
I am down there I will try to get a pic of it for you.

Ernie Darrow
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Kansas Wigwag info...                 3/23/00

Hello Dan.

My name is Kelly Moore and I wanted to tell you about 2 wig wags that I know of here in KANSAS.
The first one is located about 4 miles north of Cherryvale Kansas at a rural crossing. The
other is located in Independence Kansas. I believe both were once ATSF but now shortline
SEKRR. Both are in looks to be good condition and functional.
Thanks.
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Santa Monica Memories...            3/8/00

Ah, more fond memories.  I'd forgotten that wigwag was even there across from
the Mormon temple!

Santa Monica Boulevard itself was once a part of Route 66, as you probably
know.  It was divided by an SP spur that ran down the middle, dividing it and
its parallel, Little Santa Monica Boulevard.  It branched off at Pico
Boulevard and dead-ended at the San Diego Freeway.  Little S. M.  was a dipsy
two-lane elevated above the main drag along a low hill, while the tracks ran
upward and crossed a couple of cross streets with bridges as it headed east
toward Century City.  I used to drive a 24' bobtail truck there quite often
during the late 80s.  The line was abandoned around 1988.

I haven't been back there for quite some time, but the traffic used to be
horrendous through there.  No protected left turns and generally whacked
traffic control.  I understand the area has finally been reengineered.  Hope
this info helps!

Ralph squillace
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RE: Double Wigwag...                   3/5/00

Dan,
I just saw a double wigway in a video I just purchased from Pentrex,
Monon She's a Hoosier Line. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw it.

Anyway, I am pretty sure this is a different signal than the one on
your main page. Not sure if it is still there or the exact location, but I
will break out the video and see if I can pin it down. The video is from
1990, at which point the signal was still active. It is either on a shortline
(former Monon track), or part of the Indiana Railway Museum?

Thanks for the great wig wag page.
Michael
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Wigwag(s) in Houston...                  2/22/00

Just an FYI,
I do know of one, maybe more still in operation in Houston
Texas.  The one for sure, as I saw it a few days ago, is on the BNSF
line that west of downtown parallel to Washington Avenue.  I do not
know the name of the street the wig wag is on, but it is easy to find.

Jim Strickland

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Wigwags  Spotted in Illinois...           2/10/00

Hello,
Great Site!  There are two crossings in Alton, IL
protected by lower quadrant units.  Sorry I do not
have a picture yet.  They are on a NS spur line which
runs parallel to Broadway Av and ends at a Conagra
facility along the Mississippi River, as well as a
couple of other businesses.
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Wigwags in Michigan...         2/10/00

Dan FYI there are a number of still active wig wags in central Michigan
both on the old Grand Trunk (now the TSBY) and the old New York Central
(now NS) Don't yet have a digital camera for pictures

 Jon

If anyone knows where they are located, or has pictures, please send them.
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Medford, OR on endangered list...    2/9/00

Along with the tracks at Harry and David coming out, you will notice
alot of changes in downtown Medford also.  This is due to a big project soon.
Basically, there will be a brand new street that runs parallel right along
the tracks through downtown where all of the sidings used to be.  All of
the downtown Medford crossings will be completely upgraded and tied in with
the new traffic signals for the new street.  Yes, this means the wigwag in
downtown Medford will be gone sometime this year, also.  We're losing 3
of the remaining 7 wigwags on the line this year alone.

Xingman
(CORP Siganl Maintainer)
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Seacliff Wigwag Stolen!...                                          2/7/00

The wig wag that was at the grade crossing at the west switch Seacliff was
stolen yesterday, Sunday February 6.  Amtrak #11 thought it was missing and
Amtrak #786 verified that it was definitely missing.

Any information on the wig wag and its where abouts should be reported to
the UP ASAP.  You can call 1-800-UPRR COP or the number that shows on all
grade crossing boxes.

My assumption is a railfan stole the wig wag and it will turn up somewhere.
This event just gives us all another black eye.

Josiah

This letter appeared on the Faomers email list on 2/7/00, I have not
personally verified this. More info when it comes in.
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Banks, Oregon update...         2/5/00

Dan,

I got the following message from Jody Moore regarding apparently the wig-wag located in Banks, Oregon.
I received a tip from Jody a few weeks ago and checked it out; indeed one of the two wig-wags there received
a new banner by the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad.  I have some pictures of the old banner at my site and
hope to have the new pictures soon so there is a "before" and "after".

I can tell you that I received word from a friend at the Willamette & Pacific that the wig-wags in McMinnville
have their days numbered.  The W&P currently has five wig-wags on the system, three in Mac and two in Dallas.
Those two in Dallas will probably remain since one is a private crossing; and that there is so little traffic on that line.
W&P's sister road Portland & Western has one on the former SP&S Astoria Line; the wig-wag is located
on a stretch of line which is out of service.

So the wig-wag story up here in Oregon is getting depressing, with the Lebanon wig-wag doomed as well (due to line embargo).
It would be nice if the local railroad historical society would take a wig-wag or two for a future museum;
however there have been three wig-wags saved (in Carlton, Canby, and Woodburn).

Hope that helps you out...  Jody will probably be able to get more information from the POTB regarding the other two
POTB wig-wags since he has a good contact in Tillamook.

As for web sites and all, I have updated my site with a few new pictures, and I'm still working on my links page...

- erik

Check out Erik's website on Oregon Wigwags!
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