THE OFFICIAL WEBPAGE
OF ROBERT D. WEST
Oregon Wig-Wags
The Magnetic Flagman "Wig-Wag" crossing signal was a common grade crossing signal before the modern crossbuck became a standard and flashing lights and gates were mandated. This type of signal was manufactured by the Magnetic Signal Company of Los Angeles, California from 1910 to 1949. It takes its name from the movement it makes; the black and white banner with the red light in the middle swings, or "wig-wags" back and forth simulating that a human flagman would make with a flag or lantern to stop traffic. The signal also features a bell. There were several version of the wig-wag made; all the ones on this page are Model 3 lower-quadrant signals, which were the most common in Oregon. There were a number of these signals remaining in service into the 2000s, but in 2006, after receiving federal funding, the State of Oregon announced plans to replace the remaining wig-wags on freight lines, and by 2008 most if not all had been removed, leaving only two on the Willamette Shore Trolley Line plus those on static display or in museums. This page showcases only a few of Oregon's wigwags, some of which are no longer there. For more information on wig-wags, visit Dan's Wig-wag Site.
Brooks
This
wig-wag is at Antique Powerland
and it protects the
Oregon Electric
Railway Historical Society's museum trolley line. This wig-wag was
removed from another location in Oregon, donated to the OERHS and installed in 2002 when the trolley line extension to the
Brooks depot was added.
Below is a short video of trolley #1187 passing the wig-wag.
Canby
This
wig-wag is preserved as a static display at the
Canby
Historical Society's Depot Museum, with other railroad artifacts
including a caboose.
Knappa
The Portland & Western Railroad's Astoria Line, formerly Spokane Portland & Seattle and then Burlington Northern, doesn't go through the actual town of Knappa, which is actually a little inland from the river and the railroad stays close to the river here. Two roads cross the railroad at Knappa. Knappa Road crosses above the tracks on an old wooden overpass. Waterhouse Road crosses the tracks at a traditional grade crossing adjacent to the overpass. This crossing was protected by a wig-wag. This is a very photogenic spot for train photographs but unfortunately, the Portland & Western has no freight business this far down the line. Despite the lack of rail traffic, the State of Oregon felt it necessary to remove this well-maintained wig-wag, leaving only simple crossbucks.
Lebanon
At the east end of
the railroad bridge across the South Santiam River, the
Albany & Eastern
Railroad's former Southern Pacific line to Mill City crosses
Berlin Road, and at this crossing a wig-wag stood guard.
The construction of a new road
bridge
changed the nearby intersection, leading to the replacement of the
wig-wag with lights and gates by 2008.
The video below shows this signal in operation.
Portland
There were three
wig-wags on Portland's former Southern Pacific
Willamette Shore Trolley line, though now only
two remain. They have uniquely-painted banners seen nowhere else,
proclaiming a "Trolley Xing." This one on Riverwood Road is
the southernmost one.
The video below shows the Willamette Shore Trolley at the Riverwood Road wig-wag.
North
of the Sellwood Bridge on the former Southern Pacific Willamette Shore
Trolley line another wig-wag stands guard with its unique banner at the
entry to the Macadam Bay Yacht Club and Butterfly Park. It is
plainly visible from SW Macadam Avenue/Oregon Highway 43.
This wig-wag stood
on the Willamette Shore Trolley's former Southern Pacific line at the Nebraska Street crossing near
the entrance to Willamette Park. It was struck by a vehicle in
early 2008 and had to be removed. A member of the
trolley
crew must now manually flag the crossing. The banner shaft of this
crossing was decorated with the text of Proverbs 15:3, "The eyes of the
Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good." in tiny
lettering. The banner was still painted in an earlier "Stop for Trolley"
paint scheme.
This wig-wag is on static display outside the home of the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club, at 2505 North Vancouver Avenue.
Woodburn
This wig-wag is on static display in Woodburn next to preserved Southern Pacific steam locomotive #1785.
Related Links:
Also See:
TriMet Westside Express Service
4449 and Friends from the Brooklyn Roundhouse
Diesels of the Oregon Pacific Railroad
Steam on the Chelatchie Prairie
Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club
PORTLAND PLACES - Willamette Shore Trolley
PORTLAND PLACES - Union Station
PLACES - Antique Powerland, Brooks, Oregon
All website content, including graphics and pictures are © Robert D. West unless otherwise noted. Content is not to be used out of the context of this webpage without expressed permission. Any opinions expressed herein are mine and are not necessarily shared by the Milwaukee School of Engineering, or anyone else.
Questions? Comments? Critiques? Corrections? Concerns? Email me at westr@msoe.edu.