What was the Railroad's name, or title for the man and the shanty, which attended to the gate, as a train approached, at railroad crossings?
Thank you,
Ralph
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When I was a kid a long time ago the title was Watchman.
Robert thank you and I appreciate your answer, I wanted to know the correct RR. title that is why I asked, but I also heard from a Malverne, N.Y. Historian that back in the early 1950's that the RR's. vernacular was: 'Gate Tender.'
Can anyone else enlighten me?
Thank you,
Ralph
RJL,
If you would Google, "Railroad Gate Tender"you will find a wealth of information and railroad reports.
Thank you "Pappy,"
Ralph
Almost everything connected to railroads - real and model - has different names in different parts of the country.
Before gates and warning lights were activated by electrical circuits, they were operated manually. As posted, these employees were called Gatemen, Gate Tenders, Watchmen or Crossing Watchmen.
If there were no crossing gates or lights, an employee carried a flag by day and a lantern by night. The name "Flagman" was used. But that name usually designated a crew member traveling on a train who walked up or down the track to warn oncoming trains of another train on that track.
Thank you ReadingFan,
When, I worked in a north area of Brooklyn. N.Y.C., L.I., N.Y.S. there was a shanty and as, I would say, 'Gateman.'
I never asked the gentleman his RR. job description title, I just went by what Lionel celled them.
But, I recently heard a local Malverne, N.Y. Village Historian refer about a 'Gate Tender' back in 1951 at a village railroad crossing, complete with a shanty.
I was wondering what the actual railroad vernacular was/is.
Thanks to all for your knowledge and information.
Ralph
Learned something new today...thanks.
-Greg
-Greg
