Illinois Railway Museum's Railroad Crossing Signals

Visit www.irm.org
Presenting operating Wig Wag crossing signals from a variety of manufacturers plus a rare Flashing Light Rotating Banner signal.
The Illinois Railway Museum is a great place for a family to see vintage standard gauge railroad equipment.
Video created by www.tmbv.com

[@ThermoMan]

What a brilliant collection. Looks like a great place to visit

[@riorusselang4234]

D ekrrk

[@riorusselang4234]

47t3

[@DanTDMJace]

@@riorusselang4234 r/ihadastroke

[@ZeektheGeek5996]

It’s at the Illinois state railroad museum

[@Sayoriwastaken]

​@@DanTDMJace r/youngpeopleyoitube most likely

[@RailBrothersProductions]

I'm glad the Illinois Railway Museum is preserving wigwags

[@TrainsofChicagoland]

Hello

[@RailBrothersProductions]

@@TrainsofChicagoland hi there

[@trainknightt]

the rr museum in Green Bay WI still has one, it doesn’t work for trains but it stays active at all times in front of a grade crossing

[@amtrakproductions-mx9ib]

Most wig wags are preserved

that E5 pulling the zephyr train set is awesome

[@heatherarmstrong6862]

I’m coming this summerThis place looks awesome

[@jamesward6935]

Most Rotating banner signals I have seen are different- the crossbuck is mounted on a taller post which is atop the framed area for the stop sign. Also, the signals are usually mounted just above the stop sign frame, and are usually the more standard signals with the black round backgrounds. I have never seen a Griswold with the signals mounted just above the stop sign mechanism.

[@ctg6734]

I do believe that is the 1st generation of rotating banner signal from the late 1920's. I think the lights were moved higher sometime in the 30's. It's neat to see an early version Griswold in action.

[@KaiserFrazer67]

Starting @2:26 (Re: the harp-style wig-wags): Looks like they need to tighten the mounting bolts a bit more on the nearest sign--the whole sign is rocking with the signal!

[@Yeentenology]

KaiserFrazer67 they do need to be tightened a bit.

[@WisconsinCentralProductions]

@2:38 the crossing goes BONK

[@BNSF2012]

This is nostalgia right here

[@bikdav]

They need to get the light to shine in some of these.

[@LesVelas]

Yes

[@Ithinkiwill66]

Too bad most of them didn't light up too. But, fantastic video! I love the "silver bullit" type of a train! Beautiful!

[@regan44017]

@Evan the train lover If you're trying to catch someone out with a spelling mistake, at least make your own comment correct. It's *spelt* 'Bullet' but *pronounced* 'bullit' 😂

[@QuynhAnh-je1vg]

My chance your spelt is wrong not than me

[@sadcattoclips]

Some of them do light up but depending on the camera, the arguably dim light on some of them can be hard to see. Not saying all of them are on, most of them are off, but just keep that in mind.

[@terrypozyskijr.1437]

Some of this old signal need to be brought back and used . people don't pay attention

[@bellishmixedmedia5430]

You're right

[@beesbeesbees-andbees]

Like the wig wag?

[@XavierTheRailfanner_]

That would make it worse.

[@thesierrastandard7281]

Gotta love the clank of the bell and the pre-war diesel horn!

[@TheMNrailfan227]

King Wasabi you said it

[@ag6371]

It’s a Leslie A200

[@steelswarfs]

What a GREAT collection! Thanks for sharing video!

[@D322MWUNITED]

Wow that train museum is only 56 miles away from where I live I went here when I was really little but now it looks like they repainted everything

[@norazilah1827]

Olgc ?7☺😊

[@norazilah1827]

☺😊😀😁😂😃😄😅😆😇😈😉😯😐😑😕😠😬😡😢😴😮😣😤😥😦😧😨😩😰😟😱😳😲😵😶😷😞😒😍😛😜😝😋😗😙😘😚😎😭😌😖😔😪😏😓

[@JesusMartinez-rr2ry]

I just really wish I can be there in person to see all these railroad crossing signals

[@CurlyQLink]

I live about 1.5 hours east of Union, Illinois where the I.R.M. Is located. I have tried to go there every year even though my kids are now grown. Even still, it makes for a dat filled with a lot of adventure, fun and walking. :-D

[@TOF-p6f]

I’m in Washington and my train has that same horn due to the fact how loud the freight locomotives are

[@jasminejohnston6393]

2:43 Cool, a vintage streetcar!

[@TheMNrailfan227]

0:35 kudos to the Illinois Railway Museum for having one of these very early American diesels

[@brianbc9]

Y

[@kyleb06]

It's the last E5A left too!

[@ag6371]

That observation car is so grand

[@trainknightt]

@@kyleb06 really??? or do you mean still in service?

[@theartoftimelapsemore424]

@@kyleb06 So that's the last EMD E5A under operation of the CB&Q Railroad?

[@tamimdari7966]

It will be cool of these wig wag railroad crossing are actually use

[@sqlmrq_]

3:04 love the bell sound

[@TINYKITTEN-kz8pk]

No looks like weird ness

[@railfanxjofficial]

Its a US&S Teardrop bell

[@sqlmrq_]

@@railfanxjofficial ikr

[@ag6371]

@@railfanxjofficial It's from the nearby US&S wigwag

[@famversteeg2360]

Yeah I'm buying it

[@POON3345]

So hard to find these early automatic level crossings nowadays. Good old times should somewhat come back.

[@williamh.jarvis6795]

An even more rare form of a grade crossing signal was one used on the Monon Railroad (Indiana), on some lightly used roads, was their simple and inexpensive "green light crossing signal." If the green light is lit it is safe to cross the tracks. If the green light is not lit you are supposed to stop, look, and listen. (It is also said to be of a "fail safe" design because if the light bulb 💡 is burned out it also is interpreted as "a train is present or nearby" indication.)

[@tamimdari7966]

And the stop sigh railroad crossing is my favourite railroad crossing i wish these railroad crossing work on real railroad crossing Tracks

[@illinoisohare5841]

3:05 The Railroad Crossing In Front Of My House Here In Chicago

[@davidarturojaimes691]

Is like traveling back to the 1950's

[@WisconsinCentralProductions]

lucky

[@Icsquad510]

Hi I have a railroad crossing in Pennsylvania

[@WisconsinCentralProductions]

@@Icsquad510 shut your mouth

[@sophiemansell2789]

Used to be obsessed with these wig wags like 15 years ago

[@cynthiapickett7403]

Nice old-school train!

[@wigwagstudios2474]

Not only is that peach basket wig wag with an oval shape, but it’s upper quadrant too!!

[@desertfoxx1823]

Love that signal with the stop sign that turns!

[@DorianTMChannel]

+Tyler Scott me too

[@andreiprisacaru550]

me to

[@DorianTMChannel]

dana prisacaru too*

[@u2yes1dnoedcpsabrinakittyb2]

It's called a Griswold signal!

[@Yeentenology]

+Tyler Scott Even I love that Griswold Signal u r talking about!

[@saxonaudio]

I just really want these on the mainline again and that griswold to have a bell on top.

[@bodieclark1355]

Hvgcf

[@Hiawatha2012]

@@bodieclark1355 ???

[@saxonaudio]

@@bodieclark1355 what does that mean?

[@fennvillerailfan3441]

3:01 I hear with my little ear a New Cast P5

[@yenpingwang4426]

Airport 🚒🚑🚓 Roll roll crafts

[@kylebiddle2824]

🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇰🇲🇭🇷🇺🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷 🇸🇳Yen P😣😣😣 🙃

[@kylebiddle2824]

Yen Ping Wangle ppP

[@saskatchewanrailfan8149]

Lol

[@ToothlessThedragon9]

So it was North Western 4160 the whole time

[@jamesc.3191]

I Love The Part When The Silver Pilot Comes By. It's My Favourite Locomotive From The 1960's And 1970's. And It's At that Museum!? OH MY!

[@tmbooks]

+James Contrucci A terrific museum full of operating standard gauge equipment, much of which came from Class 1 railroads.

[@arjionabiladhi9053]

+tmbooks looking

[@سعيدالمنصوري-خ8ي]

Arjio Nabil Adhi '

[@wereswdfgrdesd]

@@tmbooks nice bell sounds

[@ashemiles5715]

2:55 A UP Gas Turbine Locomotive is in the background

[@sam-sh2hc]

WHAT

[@brodster7042]

Wait they still exist

[@ashemiles5715]

@@brodster7042 Yes, apparently

[@sam-sh2hc]

@@ashemiles5715 I thought they were scrapped

[@ashemiles5715]

@@sam-sh2hc Maybe it was kept for some museums

[@NERRP2017]

Can’t beat old crossings

[@topautos]

Superb video !

[@suecurtis8313]

love it sue!

[@cameronwright8634]

That train is gorgeous

[@canadianalarmsandsuch1446]

I love the old wig wag crossings

[@ZeektheGeek5996]

Don’t we all tho

[@theartoftimelapsemore424]

2:14 If you listen closely, you can hear the US&S DW teardrop bell and the Griswold signal bell

[@ag6371]

The Griswold doesn't have a bell

[@theartoftimelapsemore424]

@@ag6371 Then was it the teardrop bell of the US&S DW Magnetic Flagman?

[@ag6371]

@@theartoftimelapsemore424The other bell is from the nearby WRRS Autoflag (3:30). The teardrop is from this US&S wigwag (3:18)

[@theartoftimelapsemore424]

@@ag6371 Hm the one at 3:18? Obviously a Union Switch & Signal DW Style Magnetic Flagman, probably used in Canadian territories. One is / was located at a museum in Delson, Quebec, Canada

[@samrat554.vurumalla7]

3:30 and 3:18 my favourite wig wags

[@irelandbloke]

Awesome trains ! :) ☘️

[@Trainfan1055Janathan]

What was that first locomotive? It had an AWESOME horn and an AWESOME silver paint job.

[@nerfguy7554]

Trainfan1055 that's one of the zferals that's the a f9 I think units at lead

[@chicago90278]

It’s Burlington’s E5 “Red Band” Locomotive.

[@Yeentenology]

a BURLINGTON locomotive pulling the Nebraska zephyr

[@Damon810Railfan]

CB&Q E5

[@Olszymanski]

No

[@hankz7510]

I remember watching this when i was 4

[@canadianalarmsandsuch1446]

3:35 that's my favorite one

[@Lautix24]

Same, do u know the name of it?

[@Lautix24]

@Jairo Zapata thanks

[@Koenigsegg81]

i argee with Canadian alarms and such

[@Yeentenology]

(03:17) my favorite Wig wag, made by U.S.&.S. co [with a US&S 15a Teardrop bell!]

[@ag6371]

Franz Ferdinand VIII It’s a very rare wigwag and it uses an oil lamp instead of an incandescent bulb

[@Dan-co1br]

My grandpa always take my dad to Illinois museum train and so i am when my school is summer day off, sadly my grandpa died in 2016, 12, 5

[@MattS_Filmography]

Do you know anybody that has a wig wag for sale? Been trying to get my own for my collection.

[@redhen334]

Matthew The Railfanner I think a few people on Facebook Marketplace are selling wig wags, apart from that you are going to have to watch eBay very closely, because those are the places they usually pop up.

[@CohaLevelcrossingsChannel]

Good movie !! Choo choo 🚂🚃🚋🚃🚋🚃🚋

[@Matscolinger7305]

I really like the crossing at 3:03 with the swinging stop sign, Where did it come from? I’ve never seen one before.

[@Skeeballman64]

That would be a Griswold Rotating Banner Signal. They were manufactured in Minnesota if I remember correctly.

[@BodhiPearson-ow1bt]

3:05 OK That was a railroad genius 😍👏🫶🧠

[@AdeliaNDavidRMclymont]

Noticed the other wig wag in 3:05 ?

[@BodhiPearson-ow1bt]

No LOL

[@reynaldamartinezgutierrez2799]

My favorite one is the one from 2:22 and the other one from 3:04 and the other one from 3:17

[@sam-sh2hc]

I am hoping to go there soon

[@famversteeg2360]

3:17 railroad crossing is like keboo how are you doing

[@LTZRS1]

the 1 with the turnable yellow stop sign needs to be upgraded to the new 1's like they have on the UP and the BNSF lines if not at least the NS rail. that's my opinion.

[@SRJOY1]

Why are most of the wigs wags dark ? Only one I saw lit up when actuated. These should all be lighted up / illuminated in all there glory when working , especially at a museum.

[@scriptingstuff5808]

Michael North did you just say illuminati?

[@亞米-y5r]

Michael Nort

[@Leovmr2104]

Michael North Kim.

[@ag6371]

They are lit. The bulbs are so dim that they appear to be off

[@saskatchewanrailfan8149]

3:18 the gates never lie. LOOK LISTEN

[@NashRailfan]

BC Rails Railfan hey boi

[@saskatchewanrailfan8149]

Nash Railfan hey what r u doing here

[@NashRailfan]

BC Rails Railfan I dunno

[@user-rm3gf8xi6f]

I must go here

[@Ferromexfan4081]

3:31 that WRRS bell sounds very flat but still better than most ebells

[@jpltvchannel]

I've never seen before ..

[@jpltvchannel]

@danish aniq gaming wkwk setahun yg lalu ini

[@jpltvchannel]

@danish aniq gaming setahun .. bukan 5 tahun

[@Eloy_official13]

@danish aniq gaming mine indonesia LEAVE IT ALONE

[@gembelspedavlog_0780]

2:30 what is that crossing name?

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

C&NW "Harp" wigwag.

[@Mr.Speedcat]

Jason Learakos no it’s magnetic flag man harps

[@brodster7042]

@Were in The Air! you don’t say ö

[@i-am-the-peas]

found in recommended. yeah!

[@GulfCoastVideography]

0:36 I spy with my little eye a streamliner

[@wigwagstudios2474]

Ah, the video that got me into Wig Wags, What’s the point of that extra dot or light at the bottom of the WRRS auto flag at 3:34 ?

[@stringy872]

Its a reserve light in case the other light fails

[@wigwagstudios2474]

stringy gaming never heard lol

[@stringy872]

@@wigwagstudios2474 ok

[@Skeeballman64]

My childhood!

[@TrainSpotter-ym5go]

I personally love all wig-wags.

[@doxythefox8426]

3:05 why did led on the stop sign on railroad crossing was not on? Because look 3:45

[@dadofbigtimeroborb2269]

What

[@ag6371]

3:19 That US&S wigwag is the *rarest* wigwag ever

[@ro_gaming.9875]

I like Railroad crossings

[@RaisedLetter]

2:22 just going to mention that the entire signal is swaying.

[@RaisedLetter]

That's not a plot twist. That's a random side note out of nowhere.

[@DanTDMJace]

He never said its a plot twist he said just to mention

[@RaisedLetter]

@@DanTDMJace there was a comment that somebody removed so now it just looks like I'm arguing with myself

[@marietarallo4454]

Wig- wag signals are so funny looking.

[@bobbysth6200]

But why was there a train horn when the trolley approached the Griswold crossing?!

[@n.agustin113]

the 3:04 signal it's GREAT

[@levelcrossingspotter-lcsra3368]

I love it too

[@n.agustin113]

level crossing spotter But th the UK railroad crossing lights are awesome too!

[@ag6371]

Actually the bell is from the nearby US&S wigwag

[@midwestrailfan1550]

you forgot the crossing next to the east union station

[@JLJ061]

I want to see IRM restore an old wooden crossing gate with the little hanging gate lights if they can get hold of them!

[@tmbooks]

They installed a pair of Griswold-type crossing gates with signals in 2016, complete with hanging gate lanterns and signs with glass "cat eyes" reflectors in the letters. They're really well-done.

[@TheFlyingmowerBusRailfan]

3:06 why is the stop sign yellow?

[@vault214overseer2]

the rotating banner ( Griswold ) has the best BELL sound and it's rare

[@humbertocorazon3045]

no

[@vault214overseer2]

how about you make like a bannana and split

[@mcdonnelldouglasmd-1184]

vault 214 overseer LOL

[@ag6371]

The bell is actually not from the Griswold rotating banner signal. The bell is from the US&S wigwag nearby (the signal on 3:17)

[@MegaZsolti]

3:38 What's that thing under the light for, on that wigwag?

[@tmbooks]

That is a reserve light in case the main light fails. The illumination of the main light simultaneously controls a relay. If the main light doesn't go on, the relay completes a circuit powering the reserve light.

[@MegaZsolti]

tmbooks That's interesting.

[@CarlosDiaz-bx5ms]

O

[@amparomarivalerofos7604]

MegaZsolti

[@ekowinartowintafamily1503]

ujhh

[@allanegleston4931]

so many variants of the electric flagman invented by the pacific electric themselves and then created a seperate signal company for makeing them and selling them. neat . like

[@lukazandkora9038]

I like it

[@Koenigsegg81]

me too i like this

[@matthewsnyder4595]

0:10 SP Daylight #4449 Air Horn

[@DorianTMChannel]

love the tram on the second one

[@adrianavanderweijde-fernho2415]

Wat’s the diffrents between the signal with the yellow stop sing’s bel and the stop look listen swinging signal’s bel

[@delta.australia]

I see why it's called a 'Wig Wag'!

[@jackwestgarth8682]

Because it just is an old crossing

[@Rocktecho]

From what decade are the first wigwags shown from?

[@tmbooks]

+Rocktecho The patents for the "Automatic Flagman" produced by the Magnetic Signal Co. go back as far as 1914. The company was bought out by Griswold and moved operations from Los Angeles to Minnesota around 1940. So by the Los Angeles lettering on the mechanism housing, it appears to be circa pre-World War II. But for all we know it's from the 20's, 30's, or 40's (if not earlier). Historical info gleaned from Dan's WigWag Site...www.trainweb.org/dansrailpix/WIG_WAG_types2.htm

[@elizabethventura4070]

+tmbooks g n

[@Kirito-sh8xi]

Г

[@dorkaradics-gaal3831]

Elizabeth Vent

[@carolinagurl48]

Rocktecho ,

[@thesierrastandard7281]

what is the horn at 0:10

[@orionsanchez6636]

King Wasabi Leslie Tyfon A200

[@thesierrastandard7281]

thank's

[@ag6371]

The WABCO E2 has a similar sound

[@ag6371]

The Sac Sub Railfan It was from the early days of dieselization so that’s why it has one chime

[@piktureit]

Listen to 2:18 you can hear the US&S and WRRS wig wags

[@MiFamProlink]

piktureit b

[@medicisfunny7279]

Yeah

[@ag6371]

That is a US&S wigwag with a *very rare* US&S teardrop bell

[@boombox4037]

3:04 this one is my personal favorite

[@TheMNrailfan227]

3:05 I hear with my little ear a teardrop bell

[@MikeSiordia]

3:16 he shape like squirrel from pango

[@War1109]

I spy with my little eye a turbine

[@GulfCoastVideography]

Same

[@Federalburreofinvestigation]

Same

[@SilkyTrains]

same

[@matthewbatchelder3627]

1:38 there is no path or road

[@thesierrastandard7281]

lol

[@Yeentenology]

XD 😎😂🚂🚂

[@BmdZero]

Lol

[@yoelargueta-pn4oz]

Desde que se puede realizar Wag Wig Railroad Crossings de Francia

[@santiruiz3634]

I remember watching this since kindergarten. By the way im in 6th grade and im 11 years old

[@owenli6717]

I saw a Wig wag!

[@marksark1119]

NICE!

[@rhondastewart4179]

What the railroad crossings at 327

[@Yeentenology]

3:04~ What is the name of the signal?

[@TheGaming727]

It's a Griswold Rotating Banner crossing signal.

[@DTD110865]

That was the click bait, but it worked for me. It seems like they have more Wig-Wag signals here than the MUTCD would allow, but I suppose they'd let it slide considering the fact that it's railroad museum territory.

[@tallman11282]

DTD110865 It's not click bait if it is actually featured in the video.

[@Eloy_official13]

@@tallman11282 LEAVE IT ALONE

[@tallman11282]

@@Eloy_official13 Ummm... Leave what alone? You're the one replying to a comment made 3 years ago.

[@Granny_4_The_Rebellion]

Siapa itu?

[@WarningSirensOfUpstateNY]

3:18 BOO!

[@braydensollie8823]

And 3:05 *BOO!*

[@dadofbigtimeroborb2269]

Lol

[@dadofbigtimeroborb2269]

ACHOO

[@WarningSirensOfUpstateNY]

Joe John Me: *Confused Screaming*

[@RailfanJalen]

Wig wag of course

[@khairikk]

Now the wig wag 3:17 is broken,can't swing😢

[@marivicang211]

But the leds are not working but rest it can

[@tornadochasingsiege]

Silver bullet is cool

[@sheldonplanktons5697]

the is signal?

[@MichaelJelineo1973]

Trainfan it’s a Nebraska silver bullet

[@AuraTheWolf-]

Rip wig wags