www.txrrhistory.com - Watchman Towers
In the days before automatic crossing gates at locations where
streets or highways crossed a railroad track there would often
be a Watchman Tower used by a railroad employee that would keep
an eye out for an approaching train then descend to the road crossing
to stop automobiles and protect the crossing. Usually these
watchman towers were located in cities at locations high in volume
for both train and automobile traffic. Although not true
"interlocking" towers, these structures are unique railroad
towers and deserve to be documented. As we come across images
of these structures in our search for interlocking towers, watchman
tower photos will be added here.
This short watchman's shanty is on the International-Great Northern
at Martin Street in San Antonio, Texas.
Scobey's warehouse (still
there) is in the background. The tall switch stand is the track
to the two stub passenger
depot tracks and Scobey's. The street
in the foreground is Martin Street. This is the north yard throat
for both
the passenger depot and the engine terminal (roundhouse).
Note that the moveable window sashes are brown,
not white. This
is an I-GN characteristic. Otherwise, I-GN watchman towers were
all painted yellow with brown
trim. Photo by Henry O'Connor about
1952. From the collection of Tim O'Connor. Text by A. Tyrrell Kott.
This tall "shanty" was at the south throat of San Fernando
Yard on the International-Great Northern in San
Antonio, Texas.
The street in the foreground is one block north of Guadalupe St.
In later years, a highway
viaduct went almost over the top of
it and the roof level was just underneath the bridge floor in
height. The
photo is looking south, and the south throat of San
Fernando Yard is to the left. Actually, that should be a
southbound
train, since the southbound main went down the west side of the
yard, and the northbound main
went down the east side of the yard.
The caboose sits on an industry siding. Photo by Henry O'Connor
about
1952. From the collection of Tim O'Connor. Text by A. Tyrrell Kott.
