This invention is a railroad wayside signal system positioned adjacent to a railroad track that comprises a mast that is attached to a support structure in an upright position. A signal head having one or more signal lights is mounted to the mast such that a locomotive operator in an approaching locomotive can see the signal lights. The mast pivots with respect to the support structure between the upright position and a substantially horizontal position for maintaining and/or aligning the signal head and signal lights. The signal system may also be equipped with one or more actuators operatively connected to the signal head. A remote control unit is placed in communication with the actuators, and the remote control has an input mechanism for inputting a command representative of a direction of rotation of the signal head. The remote control also generates a signal in response to the input command that is representative of one or more directions of rotation.