<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Bill, I wondered the same thing about my area of interest. Although my specific interest was wig-wags, the elevated watch tower elimination answer came along for the ride. <div><br></div><div>My sources were newspapers.com and the archives. The former was more direct (men are working this week…), while the latter was indirect in the form of drawings for automatic “flashlight” signals for a given grade crossing. Both sources reference replacement / removal of existing watch towers. </div><div><br></div><div>I’d suggest start a search for wigwags for the location in question. For what it’s worth, on the Scioto Division, wig wags were added / watch towers removed in two batches- 1930 and 1933. At least in my area of interest. One last suggestion, use multiple spellings when searching - watch boxes and wig wags naming conventions weren’t consistent. </div><div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Matt Goodman</div><div>Columbus, Ohio</div><div><br></div>Sent from my mobile</div><div dir="ltr"><br>On Oct 28, 2024, at 7:35 AM, NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org> wrote:<br><br></div><div dir="ltr"><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I found the attached undated photo in the Archives. It shows a switching move at the on the Winston-Salem District at South Jefferson Street in Roanoke.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Does anybody know approximately when the maned elevated crossing shanty was removed and the grade crossing gates changed to automatic?</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Bill King</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Arlington, Virginia</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><DS04214.jpg></div></div><div><br></div><br></div><div><DS04214.jpg></div><span>________________________________________</span><br><span>NW-Mailing-List@nwhs.org</span><br><span>To change your subscription go to</span><br><span>http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list</span><br><span>Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at</span><br><span>http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/</span><br></div></div></body></html>