The Canton Repository ran this look back today. I found it interesting and kinda cool (and a little sad). I thought some of you might enjoy it as well. Monday After: Remembering Canton's Railroad YMCA https://www.cantonrep.com/news/20200601/monday-after-remembering-cantons-railroad-ymca Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk
Railroad YMCA's were the home away from home for many railroaders on many systems up to the 1980's & 1990's when they fell from favor as the amenities of commercial motels and hotels in away from home terminals became more affordable and desired.
Sadly, not even that remains. Note the last paragraph of the article: "Still, even after the facility was shuttered -- a last meal was served by the Railroad YMCA’s longtime cook -- the structure itself remained on the east side of Canton until it was torn down in 2017, an abandoned, almost haunting, reminder of a long-passed period in American railroad history."
You find the coolest things to post on. In July of '81 I found JU Tower in Swartswood, NJ. JU handled the L&NE's use of NYS&W track from Swartswood, NJ south to Hainesburg Jct., NJ. The L&NE called it quits in '61 and with JU no longer needed, it was left to rot away in the woods. It's still there today, but not much is standing. The bottom photo shows JU as it was. [Photo courtesy mapio.net]
Sad passing. The L&NE interchanged with the New Haven at Maybrook, NY. Its coal drags then crossed the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie, NY over that gorgeous bridge that CSX didn't want, so now is a rail trail.
I think you are correct. JU was a manned "switch in the woods" -- amazing to think that at one time it was busy enough to require that.
During my time as a Train Order Operator on the B&O I worked more than one location where there was a TO Operator handling hand throw switches. On the B&O many of these locations came into existence during the Depression, when the B&O was trying to do more with less so as to stay out of bankruptcy. Much cheaper, short term, to put in hand throw switches and a Operator than to have the location fully interlocked and signaled.