Nostalgia & History > "railway crossing at grade" Who pays for it

Way back when, railway ABC has a double track main line, running east and west. Many years later railway XYZ builds a double track main, running north and south and requires a "railway crossing at grade" (diamond) with railway ABC.  Which railway would pay for the diamond and the interlocking tower required as well as any staff working the tower???
just curious ...
Doug

Whoever came second. Wouldn't need the extra infrastructure if they werent' there.

But when it comes to staffing and control of the interlocking the ratio of expenses shared could become complicated if the senior road wants to control the interlocking.

Victor B.

Not that simple. Every crossing has its own written agreement between the 2 railroads. If a tower was involved it got even more complicated. 
Example: Southern Pacific mainline at Niles, California was there first. Western Pacific came along in 1907 to intersect. Tower was constructed with signal interlocking. 
Original contract agreement was updated in 1929. WP required to maintain crossing and interlocking, with SP billed for 42% of cost.
WP paid salaries of telegraphers who manned the tower.

At Stockton, CA, the SP / WP / ATSF tower with 3 railroads crossing was more complicated with a 3 way split for certain expenses including track costs as ATSF did the track maintenance work there. ATSF also collected both annual and semi-annual charges from SP and WP since ATSF owned and manned the tower. The SP and the WP each paid different amounts as their use of the tower and trackage was different from each other,

What I said. I've looked at a number of these contracts.

Victor B.