Western Railroad Discussion > UP/SP West Oakland:Is the Tower still there?

From an Eckachrome slide taken in 2003(I usually shot Kodachrome) the Yardmasters Tower is pictured below.Typical of SP yard towers I am wondering if it is still there.I am betting it's not.I have not been back in a few years so just wondering.Bill Webb 

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As of October 30, 2015, Google Earth shows it still being there.

Update: The last time I saw that view, or one very similar, would have been in late 1987 or early 1988 before transferring to Oregon. Lots of things changed between then and 2003 for this photo and even more between then and 2015. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/16 19:54 by Railbaron.

West Oakland (interlocking) Tower was torn down about 20 years ago. The pic is of the yardmaster's tower, which never really had the name "West Oakland Tower".

EtoinShrdlu Wrote:
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> West Oakland (interlocking) Tower was torn down
> about 20 years ago. The pic is of the yardmaster's
> tower, which never really had the name "West
> Oakland Tower".

But it was West Oakland Yard and he was asking if the tower shown was still there, not specifically West Oakland (Interlocking) Tower.

Yard master tower was often referred to as the glass house, as shown in the pix. The interlocking tower was leveled over 15 years ago.

Posted from Android

Thanks for the replies. Since the yardmasters tower is still standing at West Oakland does anyone know if it is still occupied by a yardmaster? These yard towers seem to have fallen out of favor due to the widespread use of cameras and the "dangers" of traversing the long stairs.Bill Webb



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/16 07:50 by spider1319.

Yes the tower is still occupied. I've rumors it is on short time.

PT

spider1319 Wrote:
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> Thanks for the replies. Since the yardmasters
> tower is still standing at West Oakland does
> anyone know if it is still occupied by a
> yardmaster? These yard towers seem to have fallen
> out of favor due to the widespread use of cameras
> and the "dangers" of traversing the long
> stairs.Bill Webb

Most are not accessible for wheelchairs or other handicap issues either which is required in most businesses now days.

The Glass House was over left about where that brown portable building is. Never heard the tower called either name when I worked there.

Is that the 39 Lead? 

srlawton Wrote:
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> Is that the 39 Lead? 

The 539 is on the 40 lead. The photo was taken from something on the 50 lead. The 60 lead is to the right. And the 70 had been in the dirt area farther to the right.

When I worked there, the 40 lead was to the left of the tower, and track the engines are sitting on was the inbound freight lead, then the five-oh, six-o, even-o, and tie pile. The TP is gone, and it looks like the 7-0 is pretty much gone too.