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Monday, July 27, 2015

Northwest Wig-Wags: Portland, Oregon

I originally posted this information on my old website on March 26, 2009, and last updated it on December 18, 2009.

IMG_8454 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Riverwood Road in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Riverwood Road in Portland on August 19, 2007

There were three wig-wags on Portland's former Southern Pacific Willamette Shore Trolley line, though now only two remain.

IMG_8455 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Riverwood Road in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Riverwood Road in Portland on August 19, 2007

They have uniquely-painted banners seen nowhere else, proclaiming a "Trolley Xing." This one on Riverwood Road is the southernmost one.

IMG_8456 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Riverwood Road in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Riverwood Road in Portland on August 19, 2007

The video below shows the Willamette Shore Trolley at the Riverwood Road wig-wag.

Willamette Shore Trolley at Riverwood Road on August 19, 2007.

IMG_8451 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Macadam Bay Yacht Club & Butterfly Park in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Macadam Bay Yacht Club on August 19, 2007

North of the Sellwood Bridge on the former Southern Pacific Willamette Shore Trolley line is this railroad crossing leading to the Macadam Bay Yacht Club and Butterfly Park.

IMG_8453 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Macadam Bay Yacht Club & Butterfly Park in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Macadam Bay Yacht Club on August 19, 2007

At this crossing another wig-wag stands guard with its unique banner.

IMG_8452 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Macadam Bay Yacht Club & Butterfly Park in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Macadam Bay Yacht Club on August 19, 2007

This wig-wag is plainly visible from SW Macadam Avenue/Oregon Highway 43.

IMG_8442 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Nebraska Street in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Nebraska Street in Portland on August 19, 2007

This wig-wag stood on the Willamette Shore Trolley's former Southern Pacific line at the Nebraska Street crossing near the entrance to Willamette Park.

IMG_8443 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Nebraska Street in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Nebraska Street in Portland on August 19, 2007

It was struck by a vehicle in early 2008 and had to be removed.

IMG_8444 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Nebraska Street in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Nebraska Street in Portland on August 19, 2007

A member of the trolley crew must now manually flag the crossing.

IMG_8445 Willamette Shore Trolley Wigwag at Nebraska Street in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Nebraska Street in Portland on August 19, 2007

The banner shaft of this crossing was decorated with the text of Proverbs 15:3, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good." in tiny lettering.

IMG_8447 Willamette Shore Trolley at Nebraska Street in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2007
Wig-wag at Nebraska Street in Portland on August 19, 2007

The banner was still painted in an earlier "Stop for Trolley" paint scheme.

IMG_0580 Wig-Wag Signal at the Washington Park & Zoo Railway at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon on November 10, 2009
Wig-wag at the Oregon Zoo in Portland on November 10, 2009

This operational wig-wag is located at the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park on the 30-inch-gauge Washington Park & Zoo Railway, protecting a zoo service road.

IMG_0574 Wig-Wag Signal on the Washington Park & Zoo Railway at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon on November 10, 2009
Wig-wag at the Oregon Zoo in Portland on November 10, 2009

It was almost certainly originally located at a public railroad crossing somewhere else and moved to the zoo later.

IMG_0575 Wig-Wag Signal on the Washington Park & Zoo Railway at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon on November 10, 2009
Wig-wag at the Oregon Zoo in Portland on November 10, 2009

It is stenciled "CM 733.7," a milepost which would seem to place it on the Southern Pacific Railroad somewhere in Oregon, though I'm not sure where. I would guess Dallas or McMinnville.

IMG_0576 Wig-Wag Signal on the Washington Park & Zoo Railway at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon on November 10, 2009
Wig-wag at the Oregon Zoo in Portland on November 10, 2009

The banner has an odd paint scheme of a red cross (instead of a narrower black one) and no border.

IMG_6948 Wig-Wag at the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club in Portland, Oregon on June 10, 2007
Wig-wag at Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club, June 10, 2007

This wig-wag is on static display outside the home of the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club, at 2505 North Vancouver Avenue.

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