NYC Xtra West Engine 2786

rhensley_anderson Sep 11, 2008

  1. rhensley_anderson

    rhensley_anderson TrainBoard Supporter

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    The Extra is passing a human Crossing watchman. The interchange with the PRR in background, and the Paris Broom Factory water tower in far background.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    I love it. Another of the "heavy browed" Mohawks with protruding Elesco feedwater heater. Remember when there were little shacks at the at-grade road crossings with guards similar to the one you have in this photo who flagged the cars? Are we getting old or what?
    :tb-biggrin:
     
  3. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Jim, we're not getting old. It's just that thee, me, and others of our vintage have this marvelous experience which we would gladly share if only somebody were interested and willing to listen.....:tb-hissyfit:

    P.S. As usual, Roger's photo offerings bring tears to these "ancient" eyes......:tb-sad:
     
  4. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Well said, Hank. :tb-sad:
     
  5. Charlie

    Charlie TrainBoard Member

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    When Elsdon Yard on the (former)GTW was still active into the 70's, there was an elevated
    guard shack on both 51st and 55th streets. The guards there would lower and raise gates as needed since switch moves would be made across both streets. The gates were semi-automatic. When a switch movement would activate the gate, the guard could overide and
    raise the gate if the movement would not foul the crossing. In a former job, in a former life, I would often have weekdays off. I would buy a burger from a franchise outfit,drive over to
    the GTW tracks, park trackside off the property at 51st or 55th, eat my lunch and watch trains. I would also take movies at those locations in pre-Amtrak days and the GTW ran a couple of passenger trains.

    CT
     
  6. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    IIRC, some railroad companies would assign permanently disabled employees to these "manned" crossings in an effort to keep them on the payroll rather than retire them with disability payments for the remainder of their lives. Aside from being less expense to the company in the long term, it made for higher moral by giving a sense of dignity to "family" members who had been injured on the job. Many times these folks would recover sufficiently to return to their former, or at least more productive jobs. :tb-rolleyes:

    Understand this was corporate mentality and employment sensitivity before the days of MBA's demanding that the company get rid of the "slackers" so the books would always show profits......:tb-mad:
     
  7. rush2ny

    rush2ny TrainBoard Member

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    Great shot! Anyone have a pic of this location today?

    Russ
     

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