Clovis Branch wigwags

Hamilton and Fulton
Just one block down the track at Hamilton and Fulton we find another! This one is in better shape.

Detail shot of motor box and banner. This is an original M.S. Co. banner that
was modified by SP with the rubber hose that was spliced in. This is actually
was done to protect the motor armature from damage if a track were to strike the banner.
The banner was considered easy to replace, not so much the motor box.
Above three photos by Scott Thomas - 5/2017

From 1999...

Photo by Ernest Sanchez

Fresno
O Street
(Retired 2011 - now on display at Simonian Farms in Fresno)

As the crossing appeared in 1999...

Further down the line we arrive at this wigwag. This one was located at O Street, one block south of Highway 41. View looking south. Notice the beat up banner. This is the reason so many existing wigwags have had their banner poles spliced with rubber tubing. This was not only to protect the banner, but the armature as well.
Photo by Ernest Sanchez

And now. Photo by Bill Steck - 2011

Ernest Sanchez caught the O St. wigwag in action in Feb. 2000

This is a San Juaquin RR freight waiting to take the BNSF main and move towards the Clovis Branch.
The train blocked this crossing for about 30 minutes (every wigwag fan's dream!) According to Ernest, the bell is really "flat" sounding.

Above 3 photos - Scott Thomas - 3/13/06

Denny Dollahon reported that the O St. wigwag is missing its banner. (June 2006)
Scott Thomas sent in these 3 photos that he took last March that explains why.
It looks like the banner straps failed and the disk was just hanging by 2 wires.
The wires eventually broke and the disk fell to the ground. Apparently a replacement
banner later came from Lemoore and kept it in service for a few more years.

This Google Street View grab from Feb. 2009 shows the replacement banner that kept it in service.