Raised in Banning about 30 miles east of Colton or East of Beaumont Hill. Our house was across the tracks from the SP depot. During the late 40's and early 50's, I was unstoppable leaving the kitchen table and running to the tracks when the wig-wags would start up.
This Wig Wag signal located at South Ninth Street and East "O" Street, Colton, California 92324 is no longer in service. There is not any mechanical signal serving this crossing now.
@Davie1954 - This wigwag is located at the intersection of 9th and "M" street. The "O" Street wigwag has been knocked down for quiet a while now. Its been gone for at least TWO years.
The Magnetic Signal Co. offer a failsafe device when they first started marketing these wigwags,consisting of a large red sign with the words "OUT OF ORDER" painted in white, mounted out of sight on the horizontal crossbar between the pole and the motor box, and was held in place by electro magnets. If the signal lost power or didn't swing when powered up, the magnets lost power and the sign fell into a position where it could be seen in both directions. This option was eventually discontinued.
Didn't the center of the disk have a red light in it? As a kid and remembering them in the late 50's and 60's I recall that wig-wags had them so they can be seen at night.
Yes, the disc, or "Banner" as it was called, had a red light in the center that was a low-wattage lamp, usually difficult to see in the daytime. Later, they made adjustable lamps that were mounted one on each side of the banner. These lamps had reflectors and were a little brighter. This type of adjustable lamp could be specifically aimed at a certain point in the roadway for maximum effect. The wigwag in this video has the older style non-adjustable lamp which is why it is hard to see.
this is the old P.E. Riverside-San Berdoo local line, passenger service ended on 8 May 1939, equipment used, 100 class streetcars. I was there several times by bicycle this past month enjoying hearing "dink,dink,dink". Long live P.E.
Only being protected be "grandfather laws" saying these cannot be taken down unless unfit for service or if this line became really busy and there were wrecks. As long as those laws stand here, these wigwags will continue to ring!
Very cool video. Unpatched SP unit on the lead and just kinda have to ignore the patch on the last 2 units. I've only been there once in my life and would love to get back.
Sad news everyone. One of the Colton Wig wags has been knocked over by a car. However, a signal maintainer took it with him, so let's just hope he can repair it.
Yes. It is on the other side. The movement of the armature causes a clapper to strike the round flat bowl-shaped bell. If either of the 10 VDC electro-magnets fails, the arm does not swing and bell does not ring. So it does NOT fail safe. Fun but bad design.
i like how UP just slaps a damn yellow sticker with some #s on the side...geez lol dont make any effort to make it match....40 billion dollars year lol
Isnt that a beauty!! An unpatched SP Speed letter!!
MrGarrett223 1 month ago
i miss that wigwag!!! 25 years of service from what i heard it was sweet music to the ears "O" and 9th crossing will be missed
x3strikers 1 year ago
Its great to see former SP units still in gray hanging in there
7nordic 1 year ago
All this time never seen a wig-wag crossing. Only certain state have wig-wag?
PhantomDark21 1 year ago
@RTD1 Did You Know this wigwag is on M streets and the other one with a Mec bell is on O streets？
ctw100s 1 year ago
It good to see loco in SP livery again. I grew up watch Santa Fe and SP locomotive.
panamcunard 1 year ago
@panamcunard Then you are sure to like the SPSF kodachrome merger. It is SP and SF together.
Nathanrailfan 1 year ago
cool sp
judahrice 2 years ago
Raised in Banning about 30 miles east of Colton or East of Beaumont Hill. Our house was across the tracks from the SP depot. During the late 40's and early 50's, I was unstoppable leaving the kitchen table and running to the tracks when the wig-wags would start up.
JIMBOSKI58 2 years ago 2
This Wig Wag signal located at South Ninth Street and East "O" Street, Colton, California 92324 is no longer in service. There is not any mechanical signal serving this crossing now.
Davie1954 2 years ago
@Davie1954 - This wigwag is located at the intersection of 9th and "M" street. The "O" Street wigwag has been knocked down for quiet a while now. Its been gone for at least TWO years.
Bellwestern80 2 years ago
Every time I see a yellow patch on scarlet and gray, I die a little inside. SP will be sincerely missed.
maz323se 2 years ago 2
Wig-Wags are the most Legendary aspects of railroads.
DetroitLove4U 2 years ago 5
What about Style B's?
paullubliner 2 years ago
HELL YEAH, SWEET VID DUDE! GOOD JOB, KEEP IT UP! :-) 5*****
BTW: if you go down there again, can you get a shot of the train coming down the street please. :-)
TrainTrackTrav 2 years ago 3
3 sps...id love to see that
RyanSamuelBarry 2 years ago
ok, this video is from 2007, but can you tell me, are there still any locos in SP paint in active service in 2009?
GeileSexyZeiten 3 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
yes, view my videos to see in HD..
RyanSamuelBarry 2 years ago
@GeileSexyZeiten ya theres a few, mostly in local service, if i recall right there is about 9 unpatched left but all but 1 are in storage lines
gangbanginfolife09 2 years ago
Perfect setting for a perfect catch!
ConrailForever 3 years ago
Wow thats a cool shot.
Amtrakdavis22 3 years ago 2
Love them wigwags!
railgeek404 3 years ago 3
Awesome!
singwith 3 years ago 5
ahh, SP
nice catch.
Espeelover 3 years ago
The Magnetic Signal Co. offer a failsafe device when they first started marketing these wigwags,consisting of a large red sign with the words "OUT OF ORDER" painted in white, mounted out of sight on the horizontal crossbar between the pole and the motor box, and was held in place by electro magnets. If the signal lost power or didn't swing when powered up, the magnets lost power and the sign fell into a position where it could be seen in both directions. This option was eventually discontinued.
DaveWVideo 3 years ago
Didn't the center of the disk have a red light in it? As a kid and remembering them in the late 50's and 60's I recall that wig-wags had them so they can be seen at night.
denny906 3 years ago
Yes, the disc, or "Banner" as it was called, had a red light in the center that was a low-wattage lamp, usually difficult to see in the daytime. Later, they made adjustable lamps that were mounted one on each side of the banner. These lamps had reflectors and were a little brighter. This type of adjustable lamp could be specifically aimed at a certain point in the roadway for maximum effect. The wigwag in this video has the older style non-adjustable lamp which is why it is hard to see.
DaveWVideo 3 years ago
where do they put the bell??? doesn't seem loud enough
LTDANMAN44 3 years ago
The bell is inside the swinging mechanicsm so it is struck by the swinging action of the pendulum (sorry for my technical phrases lol)
Jaanfo 3 years ago
Having owned a wig-wag, I recall it was 10 volts DC.
I notice this one has been mounted on a wood utility pole. I have never seen that before.
They were always on a special metal pole located on the other side of the track when
on your right. If on your side of the track, they were on your left side of the street!
Funny how wig-wag and engine bells matched ring rates!
robertgift 4 years ago
Wow, that is weird
KazzRacer 4 years ago
this is the old P.E. Riverside-San Berdoo local line, passenger service ended on 8 May 1939, equipment used, 100 class streetcars. I was there several times by bicycle this past month enjoying hearing "dink,dink,dink". Long live P.E.
motor1218 4 years ago
same as sophie...they should not destroy history...
cx162 4 years ago 3
Yup. No destroying wigwags!
wigwags4ever 4 years ago
Only being protected be "grandfather laws" saying these cannot be taken down unless unfit for service or if this line became really busy and there were wrecks. As long as those laws stand here, these wigwags will continue to ring!
Bellwestern80 4 years ago
I hope the wig-wags are still in service in 2008 aswell.
sophieoftipton 4 years ago 2
Very cool video. Unpatched SP unit on the lead and just kinda have to ignore the patch on the last 2 units. I've only been there once in my life and would love to get back.
guitars14 4 years ago 2
Wig-Wags still in service in 2007, now that's somethin to capture!
TrainmasterCurt 4 years ago
This is the coolest wig-wag video clip ever.
sophieoftipton 4 years ago
Sad news everyone. One of the Colton Wig wags has been knocked over by a car. However, a signal maintainer took it with him, so let's just hope he can repair it.
maxitrain989 4 years ago
THATS MY HOOD SHOUTHSIDE COLTON THE PARK IS ON Ost LIKE 4 BLOKS AWAY
anthonyg15 4 years ago
What is the clink clink ca clink?
maxitrain989 4 years ago
Thats the Wig-Wag sound.
RTD1 4 years ago
it is the bell behind the box
motor1218 4 years ago
Yes. It is on the other side. The movement of the armature causes a clapper to strike the round flat bowl-shaped bell. If either of the 10 VDC electro-magnets fails, the arm does not swing and bell does not ring. So it does NOT fail safe. Fun but bad design.
robertgift 4 years ago
i like how UP just slaps a damn yellow sticker with some #s on the side...geez lol dont make any effort to make it match....40 billion dollars year lol
russell379x 4 years ago 2
The light on the Wig-wag looks burnt out.
Bellwestern80 4 years ago
sd-40"s those things rule!
trainman071 4 years ago 2
This train is Crowned "Slow-Zilla"
watchclock33 4 years ago
The freight trains in my area usually go pretty slow.
wiley207 4 years ago
Patched means a UP number on the previous roads paint scheme.
RTD1 4 years ago
Is this track down the middle of a street?
What does "patched" mean?
Wiley, when bells and ringing mechanisms are the same, they sound alike. Bell size determines pitch.
Thank you,
robertgift 4 years ago 2
the trackage does run in the middle of the 5 block street, once a P.E. interurban local line.
motor1218 4 years ago
Awesome, lead unit UNPATCHED
Treyvs 4 years ago 2
Good catch!
danosf 4 years ago
even though that last 2 engines are patched this one's good enough for my Southern Pacific action playlist
DASCO2136 5 years ago
My favorite sounds! Where is Toonsis?
maeault 5 years ago
The paddle lights were dim on this one.
RTD1 5 years ago
I like the way the wigwag's bell and engine bell were same speed. Thanks for your video. Was the paddle light lit? There are two bulbs inside.
robertgift 5 years ago
Is it just me, or do locomotive bells always have to sound the same? We have a commuter rail system and the F40PHs all have the same-sounding bell
wiley207 4 years ago