Wigwag (railroad)
Wigwag was a type of railroad crossing signal once common across North America. It used a pendulum-like arm that swung back and forth to warn of an approaching train, combining a moving banner, a red light, and a ringing bell. The design is credited to Albert Hunt, a mechanical engineer with the Pacific Electric interurban railroad in Southern California, who created it in 1909 for safer grade crossings.
In Britain, the word wigwag usually means a different kind of crossing signal with flashing lights, so the two uses can be confusing.
Early crossing protection often relied on a crossing watchman who used a red lantern to signal “stop.” As cars became faster and more common, a fail-safe automatic signal was needed. Wigwags offered a clear, attention-getting warning that could be understood quickly by motorists.
The most famous wigwag design came from the Magnetic Signal Company of Los Angeles. The first practical model, installed in 1914 near Long Beach, used alternating electromagnets to move an iron armature and a red circular banner. A gong sounded with each swing, and a red target disc served as the visual flag. This model was called the Magnetic Flagman.
There were three main versions of the Magnetic Flagman:
- Upper-quadrant: the banner swung above the motor box on a pole.
- Lower-quadrant: the banner swung below the motor box and could be cantilevered over the road.
- Peach basket: a protected lower-quadrant version with a distinctive frame around the banner.
Across the United States, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, wigwags became common at many crossings. Some signals were mounted on tall poles or on islands in the road, and some crossings used two signals on one pole for different traffic approaches. Other variants included circular movement and three-position setups with the banner hidden when inactive.
Wigwags could run on different power supplies, including 600 volts DC (typical for streetcars), 8 volts DC, and some 110-volt AC models. Special arrangements were used for AC power to ensure enough motion. Over time, the standard “stop” sign and crossbucks were integrated into the signal housing or nearby.
Demand for wigwags declined after the 1940s as new, more reliable crossing signals—usually with flashing lights and gates—became the norm. A 1930s–1950s shift in regulations and power needs made wigwags outdated for new installations, though many crossings kept them for years longer. Production by the Magnetic Signal Company continued until 1949, with parts available until 1960, and the company later became part of Griswold Signal.
Today, only a few wigwags remain in regular service, mostly on heritage lines or at museums. As of 2022, there were 14 wigwags in use at railroad crossings in the United States, all in California, with others surviving as non-working displays or collectibles. In the 2000s, several famous wigwags were preserved or rebuilt for parks, movies, and historic railways, including at Disneyland and the Puffing Billy Railway in Australia.
Different makers produced wigwags besides Magnetic Signal, including WRRS (which built Autoflag #5 models) and Union Switch and Signal. Autoflag #5s were common in the Midwest and were gradually removed in the 1970s and 1980s. Some western U.S. and eastern U.S. wigwags were kept longer or restored for historical display.
Across the world, wigwags left a legacy as recognizable symbols of an era before modern flashing signals. They are now mostly found in museums, on heritage railways, or as rare surviving crossings in use only for special events.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:36 (CET).