Pre 1950 RR Grade Crossing Signals

I'm not sure how much wig-wags were used out east, but the Z-stuff versions are excellent. They look good and work great. Sound, lights, and action. And are 1940's vintage. You should consider getting a pair. ( Not a paid endorsement ).

N&W had wig wag signals, but the only ones I have seen had the banjo going up, not down.

This has some interesting facts tho no pictures...https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cg...p;context=roadschool

Some good photos here, circa 1957.  See page 61 for a good example...Google book on RR signaling 1957

Chuck - thanks for the z stuff wig wag review.  They sound great and era appropriate

Bill - good to know at least one form of wig wags were used out east by the N&W!

Joe - the links had great info and well detailed history of grade crossing signals!  I learned that flashing lights were introduced in 1912 and automatic gates came along in 1936.  My assumption that flashing lights and gates were not appropriate for the 1940s was not correct.  I have a couple of options to animate my grade crossing after all  

@Scott R posted:

Chuck - thanks for the z stuff wig wag review.  They sound great and era appropriate

Bill - good to know at least one form of wig wags were used out east by the N&W!

Joe - the links had great info and well detailed history of grade crossing signals!  I learned that flashing lights were introduced in 1912 and automatic gates came along in 1936.  My assumption that flashing lights and gates were not appropriate for the 1940s was not correct.  I have a couple of options to animate my grade crossing after all  

I was actually surprised too about auto gates being that early.  Since deciding to focus on the immediate post WWII years for my layout i did some research to justify the cantilever and flashing signals i have and was pleased to find out i could justify their use!

Scott R...Reading & Northern has just installed 2 original wig-wag signals at Pittston, PA yard. They are fully rebuilt and operational as I saw/photographed them on August 13, 2023.

and Reading & Northern RR video...this video was made by R&N to be shared...enjoy.  https://youtu.be/1ZoRGVSZnjk?feature=shared

Walter.

Here are some pic's from a publication that went out of business 50 years ago. Some could be easily scratch built.

Remember a lot of early crossings were just covered by signs without signals.

I followed up with some more research on the subject.  While I don’t plan to model a specific road or place, I do take inspiration from PRR north-south branches in NY state, namely the Elmira branch and the former Western NY and Pennsylvania.  Bill Caloroso’s book on the PRR Elmira Branch has several photos of grade crossings dated in the 40s and 50s.  There  is a mix of signs only, cross bucks with flashers, and 1 pic of a manually operated gate with an elevated watchman’s shanty.  No pictures had wig wag signals, and I did not find any pictures of automatic crossing gates.  There is one picture of a grade crossing with cross bucks and flashing lights dated as “late 1920s.”  

Given all that information collected so far, I think I’ll go with standard cross bucks with flashing lights, but not automatic gates.  While z stuff offers that option, I’d be interested to hear what other options may be available, especially if more cost effective

This is a great catalog for referencing crossing signals from the 1940's....