Albert Hunt
Encyclopedia
Albert Hunt was the inventor of the wigwag
, a grade crossing signal used in transport
ation. Hunt was a mechanical engineer from Southern California
. He invented the wigwag in 1909 out of the necessity for a safer
railroad grade crossing. Hunt was associated with the Pacific Electric
interurban streetcar railroad.
Wigwag (railroad)
Wigwag is the nickname given to a type of railroad grade crossing signal once common in North America, named for the pendulum-like motion it used to signal the approach of a train...
, a grade crossing signal used in transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
ation. Hunt was a mechanical engineer from Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. He invented the wigwag in 1909 out of the necessity for a safer
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
railroad grade crossing. Hunt was associated with the Pacific Electric
Pacific Electric Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
interurban streetcar railroad.