That tower looks like an elevated crossing watchman's tower. I have seen photos of ones almost exactly like that one.
|
I do believe that it is in fact an elevated crossing watchman's tower. A man would sit up there, and then climb down a ladder to lower gates at the street. There used to be one in the town I grew up in in Ohio.
|
| Posted by Paul P on January 8, 2014 | |
Looks very much like a LS&MS crossing watchmans tower. They had an octagonal design like this. Given the location of the museum I would bet that is what it is.
|
A great photo and great history lesson. I have never seen a crossing tower. Very interesting.
|
Not exactly the same type of tower... but here is an example of one from back in the day in my hometown: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=327056&nseq=159.
In the later part of the 70's when that photo was taken, I'm sure it wasn't necessary to get out of the tower to activate the signals, most likely it was just a push of a button.
|
| Posted by ANSELMO on January 9, 2014 | |
What a surprise: I thought the Joe at IRM Union (IL) was the only Lake Shore survivor. Very nice photo indeed. Look a video of the same location http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJdfysLke9Y showing this tower and the CSX mainline right at the right side. It seems that there are a person inside the tower.
|
Folks..... this is an "800". The Milwaukee's were called "Little Joes" South Shore called em "800's". The 800 at the IRM is operational. Only 2 exist of the 3 the SShore had.
|