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Letters Archives

Jan, 2002---10/14/03

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Fresno, Ca Update...                                     10/14/03

Hi Dan,

Made a few trips recently to check on the Central Valley wigwags.
I didn't notice any changes to any of them (except that the ex-SP Strathmore, CA
depot has been moved to within a block of the Lemoore wigwag!).
Listed below are the dates I checked on the various wigwags.

3/23/03 (Fresno)
Broadway/Cherry Ave
Hamilton/Fulton
"O" St. near Hwy 41
Van Ness/California

7/28/03
Locan Rd (Sanger/Fresno)

8/6/03
Phillips St. (Hanford)
Brown St. (Hanford)
Fox St. (Lemoore)

8/31/03
Downtown Sanger

9/1/03 (Lindsay)
Hermosa St.
Honolulu St.
Valencia St.
Lewis St.

I also tracked down the Casmalia wigwag on 1/31/03.
Unfortunately I was unable to get close enough to it for photographs without trespassing.

Scott Thomas
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CASO Wigwags stolen...                               10/14/03

Hi Dan,
Thought I'd let you know that the wigwags on the CASO line east of St. Thomas in
Southern Ontario were stolen 2 years ago ( all 4 of them ) ( all within about 2 weeks ).
The Caso presently is being torn up from a point 84 miles east of St. Thomas to
St. Thomas, with the portion west of St. Thomas still in servive with occasional traffic.
We do have an operational WRS wig wag on display at our tourist train operation at
Pt.Stanley south of St. Thomas, and have recently reactivated it. Hope to get some
paint on it before the snow flies.

Dan Vernackt,
PSTR President & Signalman
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Banks Or. Wigwag on the ground?...                    10/12/03

I don't normally follow this kind of thing, but I happened to see a picture of the 2 Banks Oregon
wigwags in an internet article that I received a few months ago...    Recent news... the Wigwag on
Banks Road was stuck by a car (  I assume ) about 2 weeks ago and it is laying along side the road
in pieces.  It doesn't look too healthy.     That track is owned by Port of Tillamook railroad I think...

Dave
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Wigwags in Alabama?...                                      10/11/03

Are the wig wags u have listed all there is or just limted to the ones you have had submitted?
ITs been 15 years but I did know of 2 on a csx  branch line near gadsden alabama.

tnx roy
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Most of the wigwags I have listed were submitted by people from across the country.
I only add them to the Master List if they can come up with a current photo. I have to
rely on people to keep me updated as to when they get removed. I can only vouch for
California wigwags since that's where I live. I think that chances are, if you spotted a
wigwag 15 years ago, it's probably gone. I've had the site up for almost 5 years and
am pretty sure we have at least 90-95% of all active wigwags listed (not including
museums and private collections). I'm sure there are still a few lurking around out
there somewhere though...

If you have any recent photos of those, please send them.

Thanks.

Dan
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Wigwag Sighting in MO...                           10/11/03

You can add an operating wig-wag to your missouri list. it is at joplin,mo at the 4th st.
crossing on the missouri & northern arkansas railroad. it is ex- slsf trackage the mna
took over from the bn a couple of years ago.

Bob Plough, locomotive engineer - MNA RR

Bob follows up his first letter...

Sending an update and correction on the wigwag in joplin.
in my last e-mail i incorrectly listed the wigwag as being at the 4th st.
crossing when it is actually at the 3rd. st.crossing. i drove over there
today to photograph it and realized my mistake. i did get the photograph
of the signal, however, i have'nt shot the roll out of the camera just yet.
as soon as the film is developed i will galdly send you a copy for verification...

bob plough 10-7-03
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Griswold preserved in KS...                        10/11/03

An upper quadrant WSS wigwag formerly from a Santa Fe branch in Lawrence KS is
currently being prepared for display at the Ward-Meade Park in Topeka KS by the
Topeka Chapter - N.R.H.S. The signal was donated to the club in January 2003 and
hopefully will be presentable for the annual Apple Festival at the park on October 5, 2003.

Robert Chitwood, President, Topeka Chapter N.R.H.S.
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Moweaqua Historical Society...                     5/24/03

Hello Dan,

I just checked your list of wig-wags that are located in or near
museums.  There is one in central Illinois that is on display.  It sits just
north of the Moweaqua Historical Society building (old Illinois Central
freight house).  I think that I have a picture of it around someplace
and if so, I will send it to you.  It is a different design from any
other that I have seen in that it used to sit on a substantial poured
concrete pedestal that sat in the middle of the street.  The village of
Moweaqua is 16 miles south of Decatur, Illinois on US 51.  The signal
protected the crossing at West Main Street for a lot of years and I was
surprised to find that it had been preserved and put on display the last
time that I was in Moweaqua.  I grew up about a block away from the
crossing on West Main Street and had no idea that these things were in such
high demand--we just took the thing for granted and wondered why we
didn't have the standard twin flashing lights like most other towns of
that size.

Regards,
Wayne Stump
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Durand, MI and more...                             5/24/03

Here is some info on that wigwag in Durand, Mi. that I know:
   The signal came from Vernon, Mi., and once protected
   peremeter road which is a dirt / mud road. The signal once
   guarded the Ann Arbor which once ran parallel with the
   GTW line to Owosso. There was a wigwag for that line too
   which caused a pair to stand. The GTW one was built
   different vrs the AA one. When the "Anny" was pulled, The
   wigwag was donated to Durand and placed at the "Iron -
   Horse Museum" as a GTW steam loco. is on display
   there. I've heard talks that the AA wigwag operates as it's
   wired up! As far as GTW's wigwag at Vernon goes, I was
   told it was removed in 2002. I actually filmed this thing in
   full "swing" in 1999 as I was following a TSBY excursion
   train during that time.

There was also an operational wigwag at Standish, Mi. that
   guarded the old NYC - Lake States Railway. It stood in
   2000, don't know about 2003.

OHIO WIGWAGS that I know of:
 There aren't too many, but there were a couple in 2000:
 Bellevue - MRNKP railroad museum: Wabash
 Navarre - W&LE one on static display, sad shape

INDIANA :
Decatur - there's one that statically stands at the "Back 40 -
   Jct." restaurant. The signal appears to be NYC style.?

That's all I know of, hope this helps. I like your web sight,
   Keep it up!

Sam Sponseller
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Wigwag sighting in MO.                                                  5/24/03

A working wig wag is located on a BNSF (ex CB&Q) branch line between Liberty, MO
and Kearney, MO. Usually only one train per week---Thursday. Take US 69 NE of Liberty
(a Kansas city, MO suburb), turn N on State 33 to 116th St, west to wig wag.

Alas, the ex AT&SF Camden MO wig wag is gone.

deek deitrick
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Tolo, oregon time limited...                                               3/12/03

The next wigwag to fall will be at Tolo next to Gold Ray Dam. The
maintainer has everything he needs to upgrade it with the exception
of the gongs. I will order him some new gongs soon. This will take
place in the next couple of months. Once the new crossing is
installed at Gold Hill (which should be around the end of March), the
maintainer will begin working on installing the flashing lights and
bells that will take the place of the wigwag.

This will leave five remaining wigwags in service and talk of
removing the wigwag on the coast becomes more frequent. It is a
private crossing and will not be upgraded, just removed. Also, the
downtown Medford wigwag will be upgraded when all of the crossings
downtown are upgraded which is suppose to be next year. Of course,
I've been hearing next year for three years now.

Xingman
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Ca. Central Valley Update...                         3/12/03

Greetings,

All of the Fresno area wigwags are still in operating condition although they are kept
"in just operating condition." Each of them operates on a daily basis, and one even for days at a time!

I haven't visited the Sanger or Locan Ave units for over several months.

The unit at California and Van Ness Ave. on the Exeter Line has been updated by the
installation of reflective dual sided crossbucks on the mast itself. This gives the unit a very
businesslike appearance even though painting of the mast or banner has not been done in years.

The unit at O Street is under constant assault by the trucks and busses that use the nearby
cardlock fuel facility. For the past several weeks the banner has been rotated 45 degrees
and the automobile taillight lens on the banner knocked out of place. Just last week the banner was straightened out.
This unit has not seen paint in several years also but the SJVRR has stenciled large milepost numbers on the base.

The unit on Hamilton appears to be the best on the Clovis line.
Except for the lack of paint it operates flawlessly and is out of danger from any large trucks.

The unit at Cherry St. on the Clovis line has had the most difficulty. The unit will stay on for days at a time
(2 or 3) even with no train activating the circuit. Yesterday a private signal maintenance company truck
(meaning the SJVRR or RailAmerica no longer does its own signal work) and a CPUC official were looking over the situation.
The signal company worker was not to happy about having wigwags on the SJVRR and stated that until the SJVRR finds
the money to upgrade the crossings in question that the units will be around for a while. The SJVRR may just take
a band aid approach in keeping the units functioning until funds can be found to upgrade the crossings.
"At least through 2003" was the workers comment. He was aware of your website.
The PUC official was not as welcoming to the prospect of wigwags in the future and stated that
these were the worst things ever invented, or words to that effect. He was concerned about the
"public safety" .(I would think that proper painting and signing of the crossings
and the wigwag would satisfy the public's need for safety. Even some "stop when swinging"
signs might do the trick. )   The PUC man was concerned about the lack of reliability of the unit
at the crossing. Hopefully this might bring some needed repairs to this wigwag, like new
cantilevers and paint and leveling or it might bring its demise but I doubt it. I wonder if the
PUC is waiting for the Richmond issue to be solved to either open the floodgates to eliminate
wigwags or just leave them alone. If money is the issue then these units will be around for a long time.

Either way I'll be getting some pictures soon.

Thank you,
Ernest Sanchez
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Sullivan, Ind. wigwags retired...                                  3/12/03

Caught your website, and wanted to pass this along.

The Sullivan, IN wigwags on Court and Main streets
(with rarely used tracks) are now gone. They were
replaced with standard signals and crossing guards.

Court Street apparently went first in either late
December '02 or January 2003, followed by Main.

Edmund Kimmell
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Vista, Ca. wigwag endangered...                                3/12/03

Dan,

My name is Mike Landis, and I am a former resident of Vista, CA (now
residing in Fresno, CA).  I am e-mailing you with some information
about the Guajome Ave. wig-wag signal in Vista, which is located along San Diego
Northern's ex-ATSF Oceanside-Escondido Branch.  This is the only
remaining wig-wag in San Diego County, but it too is about to go.  This entire
line is being totally rebuilt into the NCTD "Sprinter" commuter light-rail line
(local freights will continue to operate overnight, with light-rail
operations during the day/evening).  NCTD (North County Transit
District) actually owns this branchline, in addition to the ex-ATSF Surf Line,
but operates it under the auspices of San Diego Northern.  The construction
project, which is just beginning, will be completed by Dec. 2005.  The
City of Vista has already upgraded most of its major grade crossings with
brand-new overhead cantilever signals/gates in anticipation of the
service. However, it appears likely that the Guajome Ave. crossing will be
closed altogether, and the accompanying wig-wag will be taken down.  Even if
the street remains open and is upgraded, the wigwag will obviously be
removed. I would say that the signal has less than a year to "live" (if it's
even still there, I've not been back to Vista in over 6 months).  Wig-Wag
fans may want to get their photos now before the sole remaining wig-wag in
San Diego County is taken down.

As I'm sure you already know, the wig-wags on the ex-ATSF Redlands
branch are being removed as well as that line is also being heavily rebuilt
for commuter trains (Metrolink).

Mike Landis
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Santa Fe wigwag memories...                                3/12/03

Hi, Magnetic Flagman. Your website is absolutely great.

Here I am, living in New York, looking at  your picture of Santa Fe at
Shafter, a place where I worked as engine watch (steam), in 1946.
During potato season they a switch engine assigned to Shafter during the day.
At night, instead ot taking the engine all the way back to Bakersfield
(Kern Junction) we would keep the steam and fire going.

In your photo, I also noticed the building across the street, I believe
it was electric or water company.

Most of my Santa Fe work was done in Riverbank fireman on steam engine
No. 604, with Leland Powers and Nick Fisher.
I have a snapshot of 604. If you want a copy I'll be glad to send it to
you.

Went back in the navy in 1948 and made it a career.

Thanks for your website.

Troy Sanders
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Hugo, Oregon wigwag to be retired...                    1/24/03

I will be removing the wigwag that stands at Three Pines Road in Hugo, Oregon on Monday.
I am replacing it with flashing lights due to recent incidents of the wigwag not wanting to wag.
Even after dismantling the mechanism screw by screw and completely cleaning and adjusting it again.

Considering a form must be filled out and sent to FRA everytime this happens, it's not a
good thing to be associated with so I feel this is my only choice.

Xingman
http://home.internetcds.com/~xingman/
(from Trainorders.com)
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Camden MO wigwag retired...                                 1/24/03

Take Camden, and the State of Missouri for that matter off the list.

They deactivated the Wag Wednesday afternoon (January 22).

I guess that makes mine the last active one in Missouri.

Robert Lambrecht
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Camden, MO wigwag about to be retired...   1/3/03

I talked to the signal maintainer last week. The Camden wag will come
down either the week of 1/13 or 1/20.  He indicated that it is to be
donated to some museum in Marciline, MO and will not be offered for sale
or auction.  It's the last one on the mainline between Chicago and LA.

Robert Lambrecht
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San Jose, Ca. Griswold knocked down...         10/24/02

Dan:

I drove by the scene of the crime this morning.  The southerly Griswold signal at Old Bayshore
has been removed (it's the one that shows up on my picture on your website with the northbound ILCOA ...
the one with the old-style cross-buck).  The base casting is still there, but with a chunk of it knocked out.
The curved rail guard protecting the signal apparently didn't work.  The guy on Trainorders.com said someone
in a PT Cruiser knocked it over.  I have a hard time believing that.  A PT Cruiser is a pretty light car.

Though the Warm Springs Sub hasn't been used for a couple of months, the Old Bayshore crossing is used
daily for a switcher to reach the Granite Rock asphalt and concrete plant along Berryessa Road.
The plant takes in about 20 to 25 big hoppers of rock a day from the Granite Rock quarry at Logan.

Stan Praisewater
 

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Bryant Zinc Wigwag scans...                          10/24/02

Hi Dan,

Well I found another item I forgot I had, a brochure for a "Autoflag
Automatic Swinging Disc and Light Crossing Signal" made by the Bryant
Zinc
Company. A link to it is at:

http://home.att.net/~wrpn/autoflagcover.html

Richard Wilkens

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Autralian Museum Wigwag...                     10/24/02

Dear Dan

Hi! My name is Steve Wray, and I have been enjoying your
wigwag website.

I spent most of my childhood in Adelaide, Australia, where
there were many wigwags (of the Magnetic Signal Co. variety)
until the early 60s at least, when these charming signals were
all replaced with boring double flashing light signals.

My wife grew up in a rural part of Southwestern Ontario,
Canada, and she remembers seeing wigwags there, too.

I spotted a wigwag on a website for a museum in Adelaide
that does not seem to be listed on your website, and I thought
you might like to add it. It can be seen at

http://www.natrailmuseum.org.au/common/nrm_a03_m02_3.html

Best wishes,

Steve Wray
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US&S "Partial" Wigwag Located...           9/2/02
-Lansing, Mich.

This sad *USS is at the corner of Isbell St and the NS (CR, PC, NYC,
LS&MS) between Martin and Maplewood.  It's on the SW corner while what might
be its control box is on the SE corner.  This line is still in service
with only one customer and at one time had two tracks at this location.  The
target was dropped dead for at least 20 years and is now completely
gone.  The bell and "stop" sign are about all that's left - even the
crossbuck is on a separate post.

gav
 
 

Gav adds in a seperate email:

The control box is not original.  It still has electric wires going to it
for what reason I don't know.  Actually it's surprising that there's a
signal there at all - Isbell is a very narrow residential street that has
no through traffic.  However, it may have been a busy crossing when two
tracks were in place and the REO truck plant was still two blocks north.

* Note:
-Eric Schmelz (Semaphores.com and US&S wigwag expert) informs us that this
wigwag is likely a WRRS model 5 "disappearing banner" wigwag, rather than a
US&S "DW". Still a rare sight though...   D.F.
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Museum wigwag in Wisconsin...              8/17/02

Just linked into your site, and three other rail crossing websites.
Nice detailed information.

I didn't go through your information throroughly, but will inform you
of a wig-wag moved to the grounds of the Taylor County, Wisconsin,
Historical Society.  It's near the intersection of the two main highways through
the city of Medford, WI.  It used to protect the street crossing by the
depot, until it was replaced with more modern lites and gates.    I don't have
a current picture.

Bruce Oldenberg, Plover, WI
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Divernon, IL wigwag update...                 8/17/02

Hello,

The Divernon Wig-Wags still exist and the CN line still looks good. I live
about 80 miles from Divernon. I also got pictures of the two wig-wags.
They can be found at

http://www.angelfire.com/clone/cola61571/divernon.html
 

Phil
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U.K. Semaphores...                                 8/18/02

Hello Dan - just came across your wigwag site whilst having a
lunchtime surf at work here in York,  England.   I too am a
restorer of rail signalling equipment and I enjoyed seeing how
you restored your two wigwags.   But my real delight was in the
fact that until finding your site I had never heard of a
wigwag!   I love some of the mechanical and electro-mechanical
eccentricities of old railway signalling equipment here,  and
it's great to come across something as improbable as wigwags -
and to get a flavour of how you,  like me,  find a strange but
innocent pleasure in such things.

My house is slowly filling up with wooden-cased signalling
instruments from UK signalboxes (towers?) - my wife admits she
almost likes the brass-topped telegraph bells!   But outside
stands a 16 foot lower quadrant signal which I bought from
British Rail in 1992 and finally got around to restoring it and
putting it up for my 40th birthday in 2000.   It was the branch
starting signal at Aynho Junction on the old Western Region of
British Rail and mostly dates from about 1950,  though a couple
of bits are older,  and it's now a highly endangered species!
Seeing your restoration pictures took me straight back to my own
weeks of feverish work before a group of friends arrived one
weekend to reassemble my signal.

I attach a picture of my pride and joy by way of thanks for my
enjoyment of yours.   I think US semaphores point to the right
of the post where UK ones point to the left.   Strange,  uh?

All the best

Martin Sheppard

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Camden, MO wigwag endangered...                  8/18/02

saw this today on Trainorders.com:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?f=1&i=156652&t=156652

have photos, but no scanner at this time.

ray peacock
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Independence, KS correction...                           8/18/02

I was looking over your site and I the wigwag I was reffering to being
removed in Independence, KS was on the other end of town.  I had
forgotten about this one.  It is probably still there.  BTW, there is a MP wigwag
in Winfield, KS.  Not sure of the street name. Also there is a wigwag on
the ATSF in Superior, NE.  Supposedly ex CNW.

Dale Anderson
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Swiss Wigwags...                                               8/18/02

Dear Dan

Witht he help of old people and some friends I could find a trace (in memories of course)
about a further wig-wag in Switzerland, wich has even been used twice. Out of the city
of Winterthur in Northeastern Switzerland (about 20 miles Northeast from Zurich) is a
secondary standard gauge line running East/Southeast through the Toess Valley,
a narrow valley through a region of lower mountains reaching about 3500 to 4000 feet.
This line serves a lot of small tons and villages in a relatively poor region of agriculture
and some textile industries (most of them today no longer existing). Prior to 1902, when
Swiss federal railways have been created by nationalizing many private railways,
a private company, the so-called Toesstalbahn (Toess Valley Railway) operated
this line from Winterthur through Turbenthal, Bauma, Gibswil, Wald and Rueti to
Rapperswil, a length of about 30 miles. This was a very poor company not having
the financial possibilites to buy grade-crossing protection installations. So as
Swiss Federal Railways took over the line most grade-crossings have been without
any security devices, except those within short distance of stations which have been
equiped with manually controlled gates. So Swiss Federal Railways had to fulfill the
task to equip many grade-crossings with some security installations.
At Turbenthal nearly a mile West of the station a wig-wag was installed at a grade-
crossing to protect a relatively important road, going up-country to some neighboring
villages. This must have happen about in 1932 or 1934. For about ten years this crossing
was protected by this wig-wag, but with increasing road traffic just after WWII
the Railways decided to install manually operated gates with a local crossing gates
keeper cottage (all this has been replaced by automatic crossing gates in 1988).
The the redundant wig-wag has not been scrapped. It has been placed on a,
until then not protected grade-crossing near Gisbwil station, about 10 miles South
of Turbenthal, there this wig-wag was apparently in use until about 1956 or 1957.
Some older people of this very small village does remember the strange sound they
heard when this was newly installed, beacuse before they had only the sound of the
locomotive whistle announcing a train. In 1956 orr 1957 the wig-wag was replaced by flashers
and bell. This a further observation about this theme.

Samuel Rachdi
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Display wigwag in San Jose, Ca. ...              7/21/02

DAN.........

HERES  ONE  FOR  THE  WIG-WAG  LIST !................

WIG-WAG  ( side  mount )   from   5th. street , san jose, cal.  is now
in
service on  GLENWOOD. SOUTH PARK  &   PACIFIC  RY.   ( 15 IN. )   AT
GLENWOOD, CAL.

BY THE WAY THE SACRAMENTO  LIGHT  RAIL   WIG-WAG  AT TRACK SIDE  IS
FROM  GILROY, CAL.     WAS  GEVEN  TO   SAN JOSE  LIGHT  RAIL  SHOP  CREW
AND  SET UP  IN FRONT  OF MAIN SHOP.      LATER  SOLD  TO  SACARMENTO.

CHARLIE  HOPKINS
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Griswolds in Wisconsin...                               7/21/02

dan,

Surely you've heard about the existing griswolds on the WSOR in Wisconsin right?

Boscobel, WI. on the Prairie sub has one that is sans stopsign.

I think there may be more in towns like Waupun and Ripon on the WSOR northern sub.

sincerely,

ray peacock
madison, Wi.
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 Oklahoma wigwag memories...                        7/21/02

Dear Dan;

Thanks for immortalizing the two signals from
Payne Coutny, Oklahoma.  I actually remember seeing
one near Pawnee, OK in operation some years back,
across Highway 64.  That was well before the
Stillwater Central.

There is a "lakeside community" of cabins and
such on Yost Lake just NE of Stillwater.  The dam at
the end of the lake carries the Stillwater Central
tracks. The artificial lake was created as a source of
steam water for the locomotives of the day.  Have
never gone to look for old pilings or other evidence
of the water tower, though.

In closing, a top-notch site!

AC
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Kansas Update...                                                  7/21/02

SLSF at Joplin, MO in town on branch to TAMCO shingle plant.

MP about 1 mile east of Coffeyville, KS

ATSF about 2-3 mile north of Cherryvale, KS

ATSF at Camden, MO

The wigwag at Independence, KS has been removed
The wigwag at Raymond, KS has been removed

The is an ATSF wigwag between Stillwater, OK and Glencoe, OK.  There
used to be two of them but I believe one of them has come down.

 I am sure I have seen others, but these are the only ones I can
remember

Dale Anderson
Trainmaster K&O RR
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Bad news for Redlands wigwags...                        6/14/02

Hello,

I am a Conductor at BNSF in Los Angeles.  I think I have some bad news
about a few of the surviving wigwags here in Southern California....
You may want to add this to your 'endangered list'...

BNSF has sold the Redlands Industrial Spur to Metrolink.  Upgrading of
the track, street crossings, and other structures has begun and is
proceeding very rapidly.  Metrolink intends to run commuter trains from
Redlands to San Bernardino, where the trains would continue on to L.A.

The wigwags on this soon-to-be-busy branch line are still there, but I
would definitely say they are going to be replaced with gates.

-Jon

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Griswolds in Chicago...                                         5/29/02

I went for a walk today to find the Chicago Griswolds.

I found two pieces of standing scrap, hardly worth looking at. I managed to
find some pictures of them online.

This one shows the one at the northeast corner of the intersection (just to the left of the mailbox).
It has a broken hinge, no guts, a broken top casting, and other serious problems.

http://conrades.net/lakewood/lw05.html

Diagonally across the street, there is another one. Its box is different.
It has a recessed hex lock instead of a latching arm and hasp.

Here's a shot with both visible:

http://conrades.net/lakewood/tomlw20.JPG

And another:

http://conrades.net/lakewood/tomlw19.JPG

Happier days (small crossbuck, original(ish) stop sign:

http://conrades.net/lakewood/sugarexp.html

A block or two south, I found a base with a short pole, but no box. Even further south,
I found a pair of foundations, with no base or pole.

Dennis Toeppen
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Minnesota Griswolds...                               5/29/02

Hi.  I've long been an admirer of your Wig Wag site having grown up in Arizona and experienced many ATSF
and SP wig wags.  Now that I'm in Minnesota, I have noticed you are attempting to start a site for
Griswold signals which were once quite common here (manufactured locally). I never saw any Griswolds in
Arizona.

I don't know what you have on your Minnesota list since the Minnesota page appears to not be up yet.
But while I was on my way north to chase Milwaukee 261 this morning, I followed what's left of the old NP St.
Paul - Duluth Main Line (North Branch to Hinckley, MN) now operated by the St. Croix Valley Railroad and was
rewarded by spotting several intact Griswold signals standing guard.  The locations are:

MP 41.8 about 1 mile north of North Branch, MN Complete with stop signs.  No pictures

Chisago County Highway 9 Crossing Harris, MN Complete with stop signs.  (Pictures taken).  There was a
second protected crossing there but, for some reason, I'm not sure if those were Griswold or not.  I'll have
to go back and check some day.

8th Ave SE Pine City, MN Stop Signs Removed.  No Pictures

3rd Ave SE Pine City, MN Complete with Stop Signs (Pictures taken).

On to the ex-Great Northern between Hinckley and Duluth, I found one set of signals of Griswold
heritage, at a local road crossing in Kerrick, MN, stop signs removed.

Everything else on the ex NP/GN North Branch/Hinckley/Nickerson had been upgraded to
flashers/gates etc.

There are still a lot of Griswolds still in service up here minus their stop signs removed by the railroad.
I'm not sure why they have done this other than, perhaps, parts mechanisms may not be available any
more for failed units.  This is only speculation on my part.

Good luck with your site.

Paul Thompson
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Ex-GN Griswold info needed...             5/24/02

I snapped this picture on the ex-GN line just north of Sand Point, ID in
Oct. 1992.  Don't know if it is still there.
 
 

Dan Graves
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Manzanola, CO update...                       5/24/02

Hi Dan,

I recently visited the town of Manzola, Colorado a town 50 east of
Pueblo on Highway 50 on April 28. The Canal street wigwag is still running, but
the railroad set up the concrete bases and electrical for the new signals.

On Beatty street, the box for the wigwag is still there, but the flag with
handle disappeared. I will send pictures of the signals for next few
days. I'm from Colorado Springs, Colorado and enjoy your page.

Pete
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Sulivan, IN wigwag may fall soon...         5/24/02

I just got hired  (on Monday) as the signal maintainer for Ge Transportation.
The wig wag you show in Sullivan (Indiana) is one of mine. Only one of
the 2 still remain. The one on court street and it is scheduled to
be removed next month.

Aaron

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Griswolds in Chicago...                           5/24/02

There is still one of the rotating stop sign signals still in service on the x-MILW (CP) Lakewood branch in Chicago, IL.
Although it is not operational it is still standing.  There are 2 at the intersection of Schubert and Lakewood.
The line runs down the middle of Lakewood. They usually go down there twice a week (tuesdays and thursdays?)
Just thought I'd let ya know.

Christopher Pitzen
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Mag-Flags and Griswolds in SoCal...        5/24/02

Thanks for your great site regarding Mag-Flags and the elusive Griswold
"flappers".  Back in my limited days on SP, Mag-Flags were everywhere,
especially on the branches, mostly ex-PE branches.  The Riverside
branch, of which you show the 7th St and 3rd St crossings, had many, including
Iowa Ave, a major street, which kept its Mag-Flag even after it was widened
to four lanes in the '70s.  Even lightly travelled Palmyrita Ave had
one.  Once the Russell years at SP were over, branch lines fell apart
quickly as the new Biaggini regime did their best to scare off
traffic.  Still, the Mag-Flags worked whenever traffic did appear, and
the Riverside branch usually had a turn 5 days a week, serving the old
Bridgeport Brass works at Kansas Ave. until the disasterous '80s rolled
around.  The old Sunkist and Pure Gold warehouses still put out an
occasional string of reefers in this era, also, which was the only time
3rd and 7th Sts. lit up.  A metal recycler was the last customer on that
end of the branch, and SP scared them off with rate hikes and service cuts,
and they went to trucks..

I well remember a Style 10 on the AT&SF on Mary St. in Riverside, which
was unusual as it was a "Northern Cal" style, with the crossbucks under the
cantilever, a "2 Tracks" sign and a "Stop When Swinging" sign, all in
glass cat's eyes.  This signal stayed in service until around 1966 when the
crossing was widened.  Further south (RR west) on the AT&SF main, Style
10s could also be found all the way to the last remaining one in West
Corona into the early '70s.  I remember that last West Corona signal well, as
I used to drive over that crossing a lot in the '70s and '80s.  AT&SF had
a lot of their US&S based Mag-Flags without crossbucks out on the
Redlands branch, where a couple are still in service.  SP's Redlands branch also
had a few Style 3s well into the '80s.

Regarding the Griswold "flappers", I have a video tape transfer of 16mm
film from the early '50s, showing one in service on the SP in Glendale
on Los Feliz Blvd, before the undercrossing was built.  These were very
odd, because they completely lacked targets on both sides of the roadway.

Anyway, thanks for a great site of memories of a bygone era.  Keep up
the good work!

Bob Scarborough
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Photo of Malabar wigwag...                        5/24/02

I recently took a shot of the wigwag on BNSF's Harbor Sub in LA (49th
street I believe) at the Malabar yard.  The photo can be found at the bottom
of this page:

http://www.bnsfpix.com/extraboard/04-16-02.php

I took it in color.. then turned it black & white in Photoshop....keeping
the red in the lens.   You are free to include it in your site if you
wish.

Great site!

Matthew Steinblock
www.bnsfpix.com
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Old Santa Fe x-bucks...                                  5/24/02

On your Redlands page:
http://www.trainweb.org/dansrailpix/WIG_WAG_PAGE10f.htm

you have a pic of a Santa Fe crossbuck on a steel pole, with the
notation:

"This is an example of a typical Santa Fe style crossbuck,
steel pole pinched at the top for mounting the sign.
The name "Santa Fe" is barely visible through the rust."

Santa Fe used many of these, which were used boiler flue tubes.  They
also used these tubes to construct steam locomotive pilots rather
than purchasing manufactured ones.  Waste not, want not!

Tom Cockle
Fieldbrook CA
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Lousiana Wigwag?...                                         5/24/02

There is a wig wag on the UP ( SP) tracks into the Ravinna Foods ( Riceland and Watermaid Rice)
mill in Abbeville , Lousiana. I don't know if it is
still operational. Abbeville is 15 miles south of Lafayette, La.

Michael Christensen
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Some thoughts from L.A...                                  5/24/02

Hey Dan,

               Hello and thank you for the great web site. I found it on a lark, just typing
            in a subject. I have visited it many times. Its great to click around and check
            out all of the subjects.
               I would like to add my own sense of anger and grief to the words in your
           web site.Not too long ago it was easy to see wig wags in action at various
           locations here in southern california.It is rather alarming to see them vanish
           so quickly.Union Pacifics take over is in quite a contrast to the complacent
           practices of the sufferin pacific.Now it seems an era is coming to an end.
              The U.P. local was switching the Torrance branch this evening, and I drove
           over by the lumber yard to watch the wig wags operate. I am happy to report
          they both are whole and in good working order. Is it too much to ask that a
          few of these survivors be allowed to remain in place? Why the greed? why not
          shoot some video? Take some pictures,join a museum,make some friends
          and swap or trade? I know just about everyone that visits your web site -
          myself included, would be glad to have a wig wag, But there are not enough
          to go to everyone.I really hope desperation does not take a toll on the ones
          that remain.I think the rail fan community has taken your open letter to heart.
          I write this because this evening while waiting for the train,an older gent drove
          up and watched the signal operate with me.First time that ever happened.
              Keep up the good work.In closing I want to add that I had e mailed you
         before about the P.E. wooden crossbuck that was uncovered when U.P. did
         some ''improvements" in gardena.I dont know what happened to the post
         after demolition,but I picked up the railroad-crossing sections.I would like to
         donate/reunite these pieces with the post.Any info?I also have pictures like
          the ones in your web site.Like Indiana Jones always says; THEY BELONG
          IN A MUSEUM!!
                                 Thank You,
                                                    G. Hunter
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Another Missouri Wig Wag on BNSF??                3/2/02

I have always heard rumors that there was another wig-wag on the old
ATSF East-West Main in Missouri besides Camden.

I just received a copy of a video series of cab rides produced by
Railway productions.  www.a-trains.com.  On the "Cab Ride From Kansas City to
Chicago" tape #3 Baring to Ormonde the video CLEARLY shows a wig wag in
action.  The video was filmed in February of 2000.

Looking at my Delorme Map as I watched the video I am convinced the
crossing is between Rutledge, MO and South Gorin, MO.  It appears to be on the
2nd crossing east of Rutledge on the South side of the crossing.

I have not been there myself but plan to make the trek within the
month.  Can anyone confirm if the wigwag is still out there???  Missouri people
where are you??

Thanks,
Darren Ferreter
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Richmond, Ca update...                                       1/22/02

 I drove up to Richmond this morning (1/20) to see how the wigwags were
doing.  The bad news is that between last Tuesday and today, the
BNSF crews had poured a foundation for the new crossing protection
on the east side of the tracks.  They have apparently gummed up the
circuit to the wigwags, for when the Q-ALTRIC came through the
crossing to back the intermodal area, the eastern wigwag lit up
but barely moved (not enough to ring the bell), and the western wigwag
didn't respond at all.

  The good news is, there was a big red notice taped to the new
foundation.  It was a "Stop Work Immediately" order from the
Richmond Department of Public Works.  Don't know the particulars
or what effect it will have - I guess we'll see.

  In other news, as I was standing there waiting on the Q-ALTRIC,
a lady came up and started asking me what I knew about wigwags.
She was apparently familiar with the term "wigwag," and with the
city's efforts to save them, but didn't know what specifically
constituted a wigwag.  I pointed out the two signals, and she
introduced herself as Joan Connolly of the Richmond Museum of History.
She indicated that, while the first goal is to try to keep the wigwags
where they are in the historic district, if that isn't possible the
museum was looking to acquire one or both of the signals.  She asked
if I had any information resources on wigwags, and I gave her the URL
for your site....

Even Werkema
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Sac. Regional Transit wigwag (operating?)...   1/22/02

Hi Dan,

As I was travelling on #5 through Sacramento I caught a wig wag working
on the RT at thier shops, it was too dark for pictures, but on the way
home on #6, I took a couple, if they come out, I'll send it along.
 

David Epling

They have 2 on display at their shops, but a third one is news to me. I would
definetely like to get pictures of this one, especially if it's actually operating...

-Dan
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San Dimas, Ca. wigwag on display...           1/22/02

Dan,

Add this one: Pacific Railroad Museum, San Dimas, CA (operated by the Pacific Railroad Society),
inside the former San Dimas Santa Fe Depot:

Have an operating wigwag in the passenger waiting room.
Mounted about chest high, a light switch gets it ringing and swinging. Big hit with all the kids!

Russ Davies

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El Segundo Branch schedule...                 1/22/02
(Hawthorne wigwag)

Hey, I like your Wig-Wag web site.  Good photos and info.

You wanted more info for your site on the traffic on what you call the
old PE Hawthorne Branch . . .

This is currently called the UP El Segundo Industrial Lead, former SP
El Segundo Branch.  Traffic is three days a week turn of the El Segundo
Switcher, out of J-Yard in Los Angeles.  The train runs to El Segundo
on Tues, Thurs, Sat, passes the Wig-Wag about 10AM westbound and about
11AM eastbound, though times can vary by several hours depending on work
load. Business on the line is the Northrup Grumman plant in Hawthorne, and
the Chevron Refinery and also Learned Lumber, both in El Segundo.

The El Segundo Switcher runs to Torrance on the old PE Torrance Line
(now UP Torrance Industrial Lead) Mon, Wed, Fri.

Hope this helps

Kit Courter

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Wigwag on display in Mich....                1/22/02

There is a wigwag on display near the riverfront in Grand Haven,
Michigan. It is part of a railroad collection that features Pere Marquette
locomotive # 1223. The wigwag operates once an hour when the Tri-Cities Historical
Society Museum is open. The museum is located in a former Grand Trunk Western
depot.

Sorry I don't have a photo to send.
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Reedly, Ca wigwags gone...                  1/1/02

Reedley CA.

Both wigwags are now gone, replaced by several very large cantilever
crossing signals. The SJVRR and the city of Reedley have been upgrading
the area along the old SP Exeter branch by replacing crossing signals,
replacing the crossings themselves, and constructing a walking trail along
some of the old industrial leads in downtown Reedley. I don't know the
whereabouts of the removed signals but my guess is that the SJVRR took
them. A very sad development, to say the least. The other signals in the
immediate Fresno area, including Sanger and Locan Ave., are in operating
shape. The Locan Ave. signal has a nearby new(12/31/01) electrical meter
installed .This might indicate a replacement of the wigwag or a more reliable
power source for the crossing. We'll have to wait and see. I'll send pictures soon.

Sorry for the bad news,

Ernest Sanchez
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