Sierra / Donner Wigwags
Until only a few years ago, there were at least 3 wigwags
on the
Union Pacific (former SP) mainline through the Sierras
(Donner Summit).
There was a double set at Norden, as well a single wigwag
at Gold Run.
Both have been replaced by gates mid to late '90's.
Norden
(Lake Mary Road)
Bob Morris snapped this photo of the norden wigwag back
in 1962,
as an A-B-A set of SP Black Widow F-units
push a westbound freight past the Lake Mary Road crossing.
Wesley Fox snagged this photo of the westbound
SP KCOAF in July 1992.
September 11 has a special maening to SP fans and
former employees - the anniverary date of the UP / SP
merger.
On that day in 1996 (actual first day of the merger)
Nate Muhlethaler
was out catching the action around Norden when he shot
this photo
of the less-often photographed wigwag at this crossing.
Dan Graves sends us this shot he took back in July 3,
1994.
Pictured with the wigwag is SP SD45T-2R 6871.
Dan Sokol catches the Norden wigwag in action in
1992.
Larry Granfield photo (1978)
Larry Granfield caught these 2 in 1978.
Alan Reed photo (1990)
Not much has changed when this picture was taken by Alan
Reed in 1990. Still a timeless scene.
Dan Furtado photo
I caught this shot from the San Francisco Zephyr during
the
early 80's. I believe this to be the wigwag that was
at Norden.
Gold Run
Larry Granfield photo (1978)
Larry Granfield also caught this wigwag in 1978.
Larry Granfield photo (1978)
Gold Run wigwag stops traffic on this former SP mainline.
Dan Furtado photo
I caught this on another trip through the Sierra's during
the early 80's.
Again, I believe (not totally positive) that this is
the Gold Run wigwag.