Southern Pacific Railroad Shanty

The Southern Pacific Railroad flagman’s shanty, also known as a watchman’s or signalman’s shanty, is a 5 feet by 8 feet wooden structure.  It was originally located on the northwest side of Maclay Avenue, approximately 60 feet northeast of the center line of Southern Pacific Railroad’s main track in San Fernando. The shanty and a pot-bellied stove were moved to the Maclay location in 1914.  The shanty remained operational until automatic signals were added at the Maclay Avenue crossing in 1948.

With the automatic signals, the need for a flagman and his shanty were no longer necessary and the need for a flagman faded into history. Until then, a flagman was an employee of the railroad assigned to protect anyone performing work on, or moving toward, the railroad right of way.  For example, a car approaching the track would be warned when a train was approaching.  With his lantern, the flagman would customarily signal approaching travelers and automobiles to protect them against existing dangers of approaching cars or trains and warn to stop.  “Stop, Look and Listen” was the theme of the day, when crossing any railroad tracks.  The flagman typically worked 12 hour shifts.

On January 13, 1847, as the acting governor of Mexican Alta California (while his brother was in Mexico raising additional money for the fight against the United States), Andrés signed the Treaty of Cahuenga with the American commander Lieutenant-Colonel John C. Frémont, with whom he became friends. This informal agreement ended the Mexican-American War battles in California and led to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 which formally gave all of Mexico’s territory to the United States.

In 1850, California became an American state, and Andrés and other residents became U.S. citizens with full legal and voting rights. He was elected to the California State Assembly from Los Angeles in 1851 and authored a bill to split California into two territories. Although the bill was approved and signed by the governor in 1859, the U.S. Congress never acted on it. Meanwhile, in 1853, Pico acquired a half interest in the de Celis lands and became owner of the southern half of the San Fernando Valley.