Mike Gus Collection

Mike Gus Collection Wigwag Photo Collection

Mike Gus


"I remember as a young child, I would coerce my parents into driving by the railroad on our way home/to anywhere we went, much to their annoyance, but anything to silence a whining kid! The wigwags of my childhood were in Madison, WI, smack dab in the middle of Wisconsin, which sort of remained wigwag central until well into the early '90's. As an avid CNW and Wisconsin Central fan, my railfan travels took me into wigwag territory often, but most of the time all I could get were signal-only pictures, savoring the few times where a train would actually appear. I also have a special fondness for Griswold rotating-banner style signals, which are rapidly disappearing from the railroad scene. I am fortunate enough to own one of these relics, complete with a glass reflector "4-Track" sign and glass reflector crossbuck. I am now searching for an original yellow cats-eye stop sign, if you know of one, please let me know! The Griswold is currently "laying in state" in the back yard, but will be resurrected this spring and be standing proud once again. I will try to send pictures documenting the refurbishment of it." -Mike Gus

All photos and text by Mike Gus

Wisconsin Central SD45 #6579 leads three more SD45's past a WRRS wigwag in Kaukauana, WI. in June of 1994. This former C&NW signal was replaced by the

Wisconsin Central during a track upgrading project between Appleton and Green Bay.

DM&E SD-9 #6618 passes the lone wigwag at Lamberton, MN. in October of 1991. This crossing was protected on the south side by a standard crossing

signal and this single wigwag on the north side. The DM&E has since replaced this signal with standard grade crossing flashers.

CNW SD40-2 #6858 approaches the Plato Boulevard crossing in St. Paul, MN. in December of 1995. This particular installation was the last one in St.

Paul that still retained the stop signs. This crossing featured a "boulevard-style" installation with four signals in one setting. These former CGW signals

were unceremoniously replaced with standard crossing flashers and gates by the Union Pacific in 2001.

Wisconsin Central Green Bay-bound coal train with a yet-to-be repainted Santa Fe SD45 passing through wigwags on the former C&NW line at Kaukauana, WI. The

former C&NW lines in Wisconsin were populated with numerous wigwag protected crossings up until the 1990's. There were three crossings in a row at

Kaukuana that boasted wigwag protection, but all have been replaced by the Wisconsin Central.

This image shows the rear detail of a typical C&NW style WRRS Harpes style wigwag. Most of the C&NW Harpes units had a small platform located on the

"track" side of the signal allowing the signal maintainers a small "perch" in which to work on the unit. This C&NW signal was photographed in March of

1993 at Baraboo, WI

C&NW "Griswold on steroids" with all the extra lights on it. This signal is located in New Ulm, MN, now DM&E property.

Date of the photograph is 1986. The DM&E has been aggressively replacing these signals on this line, and this one may no longer be there.

Please find attached a shot of a "shorty" WRRS Harpes wigwag on the C&NW's main line at Colo, IA in May of 1985. I am not sure how prevalent the black

crossbuck was in C&NW service but it is the only one I have a photo of. During the C&NW days, these wig wags were at nearly every gravel road and

secondary road crossing on the main line across Iowa. I remember clearly seeing these signals "all over the place", but never paid any attention to

them. By 1985, they were becoming quite scarce, that is the reason I took this photograph. The black cat's-eye crossbuck adds to the notability of

this signal, as most of them by this late date had the plain sheet-aluminum style fully reflecting crossbuck.

DM&E SD9 #6610 splits the wigwags at Rochester, MN in October of 1991. These former C&NW wigwags are now retired and removed. Even though the

wigwags are gone, this line across southern Minnesota still has a number of Griswold rotating banner signals, albeit with their stop signs removed.

This image is of a C&NW WRRS Harpes wigwag at Fond Du Lac, WI. This signal is mounted on a short mast, and has no "platform" on the 'track side' of the

signal. This signal became property of the Fox River Valley Railroad, ultimately falling under Wisconsin Central ownership. Photographed in March

of 1993

C&NW WRRS cantilever style wigwag at Merrillan, WI. This photo was taken in 1990 and the signal has been replaced by a standard flasher set.

Wisconsin Central 6560 and former ATSF FP45 #91 passing the wigwags at Murdock Avenue in Oshkosh, WI in June of 1994. This former Soo

Line signal had a sign that stated "Do not stop on track-Fast trains". These signals were removed and replaced by crossbucks on wooden posts, and

ultimately, this trackage was abandoned in favor the the nearby paralleling C&NW trackage.

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12/12/01