[BC] when you had to bunk at the station

[Jim Seaman]

It seems that when remote control was authorized that management quickly ended staffed transmitter sites at most stations.  There are still a few exceptions, but I was offered a job at a TV station in LA as late as the mid-80's that required living at the transmitter for something like a week or 10-days per shift. I passed on that job for other reasons.
 
When I became chief engineer at WFLY Troy, NY the mountaintop site still had a full 1940's style apartment on the second floor for the duty engineer which had not been used since the 60's. It was like a time capsule which had been carefully mothballed when the station went remote. There was a full 40's style kitchen with an electric range and oven, a full service of china and tableware which had been carefully wrapped in tissue paper, an icebox, a toilet and shower, and a bedroom with a bed and mattress (if only that mattress could speak!). The views from the mountaintop were outstanding, and the location was perfect for ham operation. By the time I got there the only problems were that the building was infested with mice which had gotten into almost everything and the wellpump and heating system had broken down. If I was single at the time I would have moved in after some basic repairs. I suggested this to my (then) wife who gave me one of those "please don't do this to me" type looks. :-) That was a great site that I had fun working at.
 
Jim Seaman