South Orient Wig-Wags - South of Coleman, Texas
Note:
These wig-wag signals are no longer in service! These photographs were taken
in June of 2000; a visit to Coleman on July 6, 2001 revealed that Texas
Pacifico Transportation, the line's new operator, had replaced the wig-wag signals
with standard grade crossing flashers. It appeared that the work had been done quite
recently, as the dirt around the bases of the new signals appeared to have been freshly
dug up. The crossing remains un-gated.
* * * * *
About 4 miles south of the town of Coleman, Texas...Ranch Road 1026 cuts off State
Highway 206 and crosses the South Orient tracks prior to connecting with U.S. Highway 67.
Until the signals were replaced in 2001, this was one of the select few railroad grade
crossings in the state of Texas that are
still protected by Magnetic Flagman "wig-wag" type crossing signals.
I hope you enjoy the following photographs, taken on June 13, 2000. I was fortunate
to be able to catch South Orient's weekly local, heading west over the crossing after
interchanging with BNSF at nearby San Angelo Jct.
Please click on any of the following pictures to see a larger image:
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A wig-wag signal stands sentinel over the Highway 1026 crossing a few miles south of
Coleman on June 13, 2000.
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Another view of the Wig-Wag signals a few miles south of Coleman, Texas.
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This close-up view of the light fixture allows one to read the "Magnetic
Flagman" lettering.
Note that even the location of manufacture (Los Angeles, CA) is included.
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Here's a close-up view of the "Magnetic" lettering at the bottom of the mast of
one of the Wig-Wag signals near Coleman, Texas.
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On most days, the only available "Action" shots of the wig-wags were shots of
cars and trucks zipping past them.
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Another " Action Shot " -- this time of a John Deere tractor passing the
Highway 1026 wig-wags south of Coleman on June 13, 2000.
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Due to a broken bond wire, the crossing signals at Highway 1026 were deactivated
when I visited Coleman on June 13, 2000. In this photograph, South Orient's signal
maintainer has arrived and is preparing to activate the signals as a train approaches.
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A wig-wag begins to move as a westbound South Orient train approaches Highway
1026 on June 13, 2000.
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South Orient GP7s 107 / 108 / 109 lead a westbound train over Highway 1026 south of
Coleman, Texas on June 13, 2000.
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A South Orient hi-rail -- with one of the wig-wag signals in the background -- is
parked on the shoulder of highway 1026 on June 13, 2000.
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For more information on Wig-Wag crossing signals, including an index of many of the
remaining wig-wags in the United States, visit
Dan's Wig-Wag Site .
Back to South Orient main page
All images on the Southwest Railfan © 2000-2004 by Wes Carr.
All rights reserved.
