Customers

The AT&SF were huge wigwag customers, primarily buying from the Magnetic Signal Co. The AT&SF preferred to use Model 3 wigwags in the west, whereas model 10 wigwags reigned supreme on the eastern part of the transcontinental route. In the central transcon, upper-quadrant wigwags reigned supreme, either opting for the center-of-street setup in towns, or the side-of-street setup for rural crossings.

The ACL is only known to have one wigwag, and that's at the former Jacksonville Terminal Complex, of which was a Hoeschen Mfg Co. wigwag.

How couldn't the first class-1 railroad use wigwags? Well, they didn't use them that often, or they were quickly dismantled for alternatives. During that small stretch when they did, and when some made it through, the B&O used WRRS AutoFlags, typically the Model 5 lower-quadrant autoflag. There is also a wigwag at the B&O railroad museum which uses a hide.

There is an instance of a US&S DW at the BAR Medford, ME station. No unique trends are associated with the Bangor & Aroostook.

The B&M installed US&S DWs, equipped with chase-lights, and usually included a mechanical bell mounted on the side of the mast.

The Burlington is known for using wigwags across much of its system, from Chicago to Denver. They used the typical WRRS Model 5 AutoFlag, usually the cantilever lower-quadrant type.

The CNS&M isn't widely recognized for using wigwags, but they installed many from different companies. One of the only known instances of a Bryant-Zinc wigwag was located on the CNS&M, as well as a few WRRS AutoFlags.

The C&NW was truly the hub of the WRRS AutoFlag. The C&NW often installed the 'harpes' WRRS AutoFlag to the side of the street, and preferred not to install the cantilever lower-quadrant type. If you don't know the tracks, it can be mistaken for a Milwaukee Road wigwag, as they had very similar installs.

The most northwestern wigwag user was located in southeastern Alaska on the CR&NW. There is only one documented instance of a wigwag on the CR&NW, located at Council Ave in Cordova. That was the unit that was featured in the Magnetic Signal Catalogue of 1924. By 1939, the railroad had been discontinued.

The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway didn't have many wigwags if at all, given it's a fairly rocky route, but when they did implement wigwags, it was usually a Protective Signaling Mfg Co. wigwag. There are records of the DRG&W using magnetic flagmen, and a wigwag of such was auctioned at some point that was supposedly from the D&RGW, but those are the only records of wigwags on the action road.

The Denver Tramways Co. installed Magnetic Flagmen along their lines, one instance of which was documented.

The DT&I used WRRS AutoFlags with hides that had the text 'RY'. There is only one known instance of a DT&I wigwag.

The Erie used US&S DWs on most of its lines, painting the base pole white, the banner red, the lamp on top red, and everything else black. They also used two wigwags on either side of the crossing.

I'm fairly certain they only installed one wigwag, and that's a US&S DW. Nothing stands out other than it's completely silver, excluding the banner.

The GRH&C used Protective Signaling Mfg Co. wigwags.

From my understanding, the GTW used WRRS AutoFlags, but there have been no documented instances of which.

The Great Northern isn't that known for wigwags, but rather Griswold's rotating banner signal. However, when the Great Northern did use wigwags, it was typically from the Magnetic Signal Co., a unique wigwag with an upper-quadrant base and the standard lower-quadrant flagman. I like to call it the 'Cascadian type'.

The HCR popped up in the 1924 Magnetic Signal Catalogue, but no instances of which have been CONFIRMED.

The IC is quite well-known for wigwags, most famously the Galena, IL AutoFlag. The IC also showed up in the 1924 Magnetic Signal Catalogue, though they tend to use the cantilevr lower-quadrant WRRS AutoFlag.

The interstate used model 3s.

I'm sure we're all hearing about the CPKC merger right now, but this line did actually use wigwags. This old Class-I railroad actually had a few wigwags that lived into the early 2000s. KCS' wigwags seemed to be ordinary Model 3 Magnetic Flagmen, or taller upper-quadrent magnetic flagmen, typically equipped with an out-of-order warning sign and a crossbuck.

The Key System used pole-mounted wigwags.

The LIRR used Magnetic Flagmen, typically mounted on a mast unique to the Long Island. It was usually equipped with an out-of-order sign.

The LASL used Magnetic Signal Model 3s.

The L&N is widely known to have used WRRS AutoFlags, primarily cantilever-mounted wigwags. The L&N also did install magnetic flagmen, but it looks like they opted for WRRS later on.

The Maine Central used US&S DWs with similar setups to the B&M.

The Michigan Central used WRRS AutoFlags, usually complete with a hide. On most installs, the hide would be painted black, the banner painted red, and everything else coated in silver.

All I know is that they used Magnetic Signal Model 3s.

The Milwaukee Road is very widely known for using WRRS Autoflags in the classic 'Harpes' design across all of its system. It had a very similar profile to CNW wigwags, so unless you know the heritage of the rails, you might mistake this for another railroad.

All across the MoPac, upper-quadrant magnetic flagmen lined the tracks. During the early days, the Mopac installed lamps along side their wigwags, which may have been tied into the track circuit

The Morristown & Erie used US&S DWs. Only one documented instance has been found.

The NYS&W used US&S DWs, nothing out of the ordinary.

Along the NKP, WRRS AutoFlags and US&S DWs reigned supreme. The NKP was one of the only roads known to use two-sided cantilever-mounted wigwags, which I like to refer to as the 'NKP-Type'. The US&S DWs on the NKP were mostly silver, the banner being red and the hide being black.

The Norfolk & Western was an oddball in many ways with wigwags. The N&w was a very prominent user of wigwags throughout its entire system, but were home to some very unique wigwags. N&w preferred to use the upper-quadrant wigwag in virtually all setups possible, whether that be side-of-street or center-of-street. The N&W used their own custom banner, sometimes equipped with two lights. The typical N&W wigwag in the city was typically multiple wigwags protruding from one pole, aimed at all streets possible.

The Northern Pacific typically used model 3 wigwags for side-of-street installations, and the 'Cascadian' type for center-of-street installations.

The NWP used standard Magnetic Signal model 3s.

Though not common on the OR&LC, Magnetic Signal model 3s could occasionally be found. The banner used the standard 'crosshair' design but with inverted colors.

The PE was the birthplace of the Magnetic Signal Co., as can be found in their wide usage of magnetic flagmen.

How could such an iconic and antique railroad not have wigwags? It seems the PM used WRRS AutoFlags, usually the cantilever-type with hides, but there are also a few US&S DWs in central and southern Michigan.

The SN was one of the only roads known to use Automatic Flagman Co. wigwags, though they did show up on the 1924 Magnetic Signal Catalogue.

The SP&S used Magnetic Signal model 3s. There is not much known that's unique specifically to the SP&S.

The Soo used Magnetic Signal model 10s. Not much unique about the Soo's wigwags.

The Southern Pacific also widely used wigwags, some still in their original install and are surprisingly still active. Southern Pacific is very well known for using the model 3, of which is often referred to as the 'Southern Pacific style'. Southern Pacific also installed upper-quadrant wigwags in the center-of-street setup.

The T&NO used Magnetic Signal model 3s.

The T&P used Magnetic Signal model 3s often with a short mast, a 'STOP' light, and usually equipped with a US&S Model 15A teardrop bell. The banner is usually painted white.

Yes, the UP, current class-I railroad, used wigwags. They usually installed Magnetic Signal model 11 wigwags, typically referred to as 'peach-basket' wigwags. They also installed a few model 3s with a custom support.

The WP installed Magnetic Signal model 3s in rural areas and upper-quadrant wigwags in the city.

The W&LE used Magnetic Signal model 3s.

The WC used WRRS 'Harpes' AutoFlags.

The Wolfeboro used US&S DWs. There is nothing unique to the Wolfeboro.