Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
1925. Well, assuming you are operating rural New York state with small cities, as I am. A lot of grade crossings would have nothing more than wooden crossbucks, (railXroad CrosXsing ) if that. Around Jamestown today, many grade crossing are still protected by only crossbucks that were recently placed. Crossings at switching yards in this area around 1925 had to be guarded by conductors or brakemen. My father (born in 1937) remembers some liftinging arm crossing gates, this would be during and after WWII. He had a cousin who was killed on the NYC main in Ripley (45 miles from here) while driving a snowplow. The crossing gate didn't do him much good. I'm betting the earliest forms came in only FDR took office in 1933. I'm slowly gathering the same information to model the Erie through Jamestown in the mid-1930s. By far, the best source of information will be the local historical society for the area which you are modeling. Old photographs of the area can usually be found there and sometimes good descriptions of an area around a depot, station or switching yard. Also be on the lookout for period newspaper accounts of train-truck, train-pedestrian accidents. The descriptive and flowery style of the times will probably include the whole gamut of may have gone wrong. A mention of safety devices used, unavailable or those in effect but unheeded are great fodder for the reading public and modelers.[2c] Hope this helps. Feel free to e-mail. I'd like to hear more of what you find out. It will certainly help me. SMS
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community