PRR Pennsy's YMCA the nicest on the line

Pastor John Jun 2, 2020

  1. Pastor John

    Pastor John TrainBoard Member

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  2. mmi16

    mmi16 TrainBoard Member

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    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.
     
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  3. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Found this saddening photo of what it looks like today. [Photo by "Ken" on flicker]

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Pastor John

    Pastor John TrainBoard Member

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    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."
     
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  5. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    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]

    1981-07 003 Swartswood Jct NJ JU Tower - for upload.jpg

    upload_2020-6-2_19-18-5.png
     
  6. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    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.
     
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  7. mmi16

    mmi16 TrainBoard Member

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    Doesn't look like JU was interlocked.
     
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  8. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    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.
     
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  9. mmi16

    mmi16 TrainBoard Member

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    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.
     
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  10. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    That's good management practices. Keep as many employed as possible. B&O was a well managed company.
     
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  11. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    I did not know this.
     

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