Location of a crossing shanty

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I’ve ordered a crossing shanty kit for my N-scale layout (CNW prototype - found
it advertised in the latest “Northwestern Lines” magazine). Even though my
railroad is set more in the mid-70’s to mid-80’s (but I have rolling stock
and locomotive power from later periods too - I like it so that’s what’s important)
it was just too good to pass-up.

I’m planning on positioning it in my North Iowa sub-division, in a rural setting
where a dirt road crosses my Cedar River Branch. There is a depot located
just west of the crossing, and the crossing is marked only by crossbucks (no
lights or gates).

Now, I have seen photos and some railroad video (film) footage of railroad
crossing shanties located near depots, but all that I can remember is they
were in more metropolitan areas where there was a lot of road traffic. Would
locating a crossing shanty along, say, a county road, be something a
railroad might’ve done back when such structures were still in use?

2

Shanties were put anywhere where there was appreciable vehicle traffic which usually implied within city limits. Shanty was placed usually by agreement with the city it was located in or by mandate from the local Public Utility reguating agency where geometry or vision obstructions and train frequency played a role.

As info, NS replaced the last 3 crossing shanties in Erie, PA last year on the old NKP main line as part of a line change. 2 of the shanties were sent to local mueums/ hysterical societies (as a way of showing how railroads kept otherwise disabled employees gainfully employed?)

3

Interesting you should mention the NKP. On my dad’s side, my uncle and grandfather
were long-time Clover Leaf/NKP employees and my uncle retired from the N&W.