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RE: (erielack) Croxton YMCA

There was also a multi-bed sleeping room in the 2nd floor of the DL&W 
Binghamton Passenger Station which was used by passenger crews with short 
time layover.  Hoboken-Binghamton and Binghamton-Buffalo wre IIRC the DL&W 
Passenger Conductor and Trainman runs and given the number and speed of 
trains a crew could turn.  On some schedules the train crew on #6 (the 
Phoebe Snow) out of Bflo could arrive at Binghamton and have time to catch 
the WB #3 and work back to Bflo.  M J Connor

>From: "Walter Smith" <wsmith5957_@_hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: "Walter Smith" <wsmith5957_@_hotmail.com>
>To: Dlw1el2_@_aol.com, Smtimko@aol.com, PapaG1954@aol.com, 
>johnkluge_@_citcom.net,        snopercod@citcom.net
>CC: erielack_@_lists.railfan.net, pemchugh@aol.com, railroaddoug@erols.com,   
>      overcrailway_@_aol.com, alfred_runte@msn.com
>Subject: RE: (erielack) Croxton YMCA
>Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 21:51:26 -0400
>
>Bob & otheers,
>Binghamton had - in addition to the YMCA - (thanks to Mr O'Connor) a 
>bunkroom on the 2nd floor of the Conklin roundhouse. There was a washroom 
>with 8 sinks & a primitive bunkroom with old iron cots utilizing the old 
>leather matresses filled with horsehair that also served in cabooses. No 
>linens were providedd at the late date when I was there (60s). I have 
>somewhere fotos of the sinks & cots that I took to refute the anti-union 
>article in the Binghamton paper. I was surprised when they published the 
>pictures and my letter. Their article went on  about how the unions were 
>the cause the railroad industry was collapsing. I sent the fotos to the 
>paper to show that, far from 'ruining' the railroads, they (the unions) 
>couldn't even make them provide decent places for the employees to rest 
>when off duty and that even these primitive facilities were left over from 
>the days of steamengines.
>   I guess I should have been content with what I had, since nowadays many 
>yards & terminals don't provide ANYPLACE for employees to rest unless you 
>are on a crew that is taken to a 'contract (fleabag) motel'. Remember, 
>guys, there's no more cabooses you can sack out in. Union Station in 
>Washington used to have a YMCA upstairs (been there), but nowadays, you 
>have to crash on a couch (if ur lucky).  Hard to believe, but the attitude 
>is 'IF UR NOTENTITLED TO A PLACE TO REST UR HEAD BY CONTRACT, UR OUT OF 
>LUCK'
>Regards to all,
>Walter E. Smith.
>
>>From: Dlw1el2_@_aol.com
>>Reply-To: Dlw1el2_@_aol.com
>>To: Smtimko_@_aol.com
>>CC: erielack_@_lists.railfan.net
>>Subject: (erielack) Croxton YMCA
>>Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 21:31:21 EDT
>>
>>Steve
>>
>>The old Erie YMCA  at Croxton was right at County Road across from the
>>Roundhouse.  I stayed there one night in 1968.  Some one else reported  it 
>>was
>>probably closed by 1970.
>>That's probable about right. The EL built a new motel type crew facility
>>when it closed this big old wooden building. I believe the new one was on 
>>the
>>opposite side of County Road, but just 100 yards or so away. From  
>>everything
>>I've ever heard crews hated it.  I would almost bet that the  second or 
>>newer
>>one was strictly for railroaders. The old wooden one probable  was too, 
>>but
>>can't say for sure.  I don't know who, other than some really  out of 
>>state
>>railfan would have even found either of them.   Back then  County road  
>>dead ended
>>less than a mile past either facility.  Today  you can loop around  to a 
>>new
>>bridge that crosses back over the tracks at  the west end of Croxton Yard 
>>near
>>Harmon Cove.
>>
>>The Lackawanna was very good at providing lodging via a bunk room and or a
>>bunk car at many of the smaller yards.  Port Morris had both. Dover  had 
>>two
>>bunk cars for years for employees to stay in.  They lasted right  into 
>>Conrail.
>>
>>Buffalo, Scranton and Hoboken all had the larger YMCAs.  Not sure what
>>Binghamton and Elmira had.
>>
>>
>>Bob Bahrs
>>
>>PS. While Railfaning around Cumberland, MD many years ago I did  take
>>advantage of the  Ex B&O YMCA right at the yard  for overnight 
>>accommodations.
>>
>>
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