I consider a wig-wag signal to be one where there signal is moving back and forth. Its usually a round metal piece perhaps with a variety of paints. Hanging from a looped metal or steel piece. The wig-way means is dangling and moving back and forth. Some will have a light with it on the top of the frame that holds the wig-wag, or on the wig-wag itself. It usually has a bell that dings, on one of the wags!!!
The closest thing I can think of to Alamosa was one on the Santa Fe Amtrak route that was located somewhere east of La Junta I believe. I remember shooting it in 1997 and its in our America By Rail-Route of the SW chief. It was a small little place, and the name escapes me now. West of La Junta is where most of the semaphores started, and some still exist near Las Vegas.
Wig Wags were popular on the Southern Pacific, and Norfolk and Western to name two railroads. I remember back in the 80's there was a triple wig-wag at a three way intersection with the tracks going through those roads. I shot a diesel train there in 1984-1985, and two-three weeks later when 4-8-4 611 ran on the line for the first time it was gone!!! That was at Mt. Oreb, Ohio about 15-16 miles from here. It was a cool one for sure!! On that one the three were mounted on one box that had the motor and all three moved at once, but slightly opposite of each other for better visibility. Each one dinged as well. I have it on early VHS video somewhere!!!!
Wig Wags are just another lost feature to modern railroading. There are few "Features" today from the past to help make photos interesting.
Greg Scholl
Greg
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/07/2020 03:17PM by Greg Scholl.
