This is an old track-side shed on the Saluda Grade. Cast concrete, but oddly the door opening is trimmed in wood.
These are the tracks at the shed. The line to the right is a runaway train line. Over grown by trees, it runs a good piece and very steeply up the hill. The Saluda Grade has been unused for about 10 years. But long ago I’m sure they needed someone to man the runaway switch. How’d you like to have that job 
Ralph
Huh! I’ve seen plenty of runaway truck ramps on freeways, but never even heard of such a thing for trains! Where is Saluda Grade? What RR is it?
The concrete structure is pretty interesting, I wonder what it was used for?
The San Diego & Arizona used to have small concrete structures that contained telephones. These structures were round, about 4 feet wide, with a peaked concrete roof. Kind of looked like a section of storm drain pipe, but with a door in the side. The door was wood, and the doorway was framed with wood. There was one at Dos Cabesas, unfortunately it has been badly damaged by vandals and is now covered with ugly graffiti. If I can ever find my old photos when it was still mostly intact I will post them.
Ray,
The Saluda Grade is the steepest standard gauge RR line in the country, located in Western North Carolina. Originally the Southern RR, now Norfolk Southern.
Unused for over 10 years, NS has refused attempts to use the track for a tourist RR, as well as local Rails to Trails efforts.
The official NS position is they want to keep the line in case coal exports through the Port of Charleston, SC. increase.
Ralph
Found a small blurb on the Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saluda_Grade
Could be the concrete hut was for those manning the runaway switch. One of these days I’d like to walk the entire grade. Downhill, of course
nice find for detailing Ralph. Remember pics when you ‘walk the line’
Dave Marconi said:Jonny's dead man
nice find for detailing Ralph. Remember pics when you 'walk the line'
If im not mistaken the concrete bunker was thepredecessor of the signal box beside it, there are a couple around these parts as well…
Ralph, very interesting indeed. I also had never heard of a RR runaway ramp. What is the grade ? I’ve seen similar pre cast concrete buildings here in the desert that predate the automated signal boxes that are now next to them. That track looks very well maintained for not having been in use for 10 years. It must get some maintenance vehicle traffic over it. Thanks for posting.
Found out a few more interesting facts.
The switch was set to the runaway track. Only when signaled by the train, was it moved to the main.
The runaway track ended at a 60 foot high dirt pile.
One engineer was killed when the ramp was used. The conductor jumped from the train and survived.
No mention of a fireman, and no date was given. So I don’t know if it was steam or diesel.
Ralph