A few years ago, our museum received a rather simple, small building that was donated to us by someone who was "cleaning up" an old farm. Rather than just also destroy this structure, he thought that it looked like it might have originally been a railroad building and offered it to us. We agreed that it might have been an old telephone shack, but also resembled an old crossing shanty. And one of our members, Ray Stokes, decided to restore it as the latter. Ray passed away last year after getting the project about 95% finished. Now, we would like to install the building at one of our road crossings. But, we would like to get it situated correctly. The building has a door in the front, a window on each side, and no window in the back wall. How were crossing shanties set in relation to the track, and to the street? Did the door face the street, face the track, or perhaps, even face AWAY from the track? Ray also made a sign showing the name of the street, which I think should face the track. Or would it? Most photos I have seen of these old crossing shanties, aren't real clear as to which way these structures sat. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)
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