In doing some research through old A&A ICC Valuation records, I came across one entry that might shed some light on the sand house. Around 1918, there was a mention of the building of a "Combination Sand and Water Tower at Arcade". I assumed that the BA&A had built it due to an old fire map showing a small structure near the same spot as where the sand house stood. It may have only been a tool shed or something else. The BA&A had other water tanks along the line and probably didn't build anything new at Arcade in the early years. Once the Buffalo & Susquehanna built through Arcade, they built a large tank on the south corner of the wye. The BA&A no doubt used that at Arcade. As for the A&A, when they took over, they tried to take every step to make the railroad as efficient as possible. They did purchase the Arcade tank from the W&B, but due to it's location away from the shop, and the fact that it was a standard outside tank, it makes sense that the A&A wanted a different arrangement. It fits in then that they would want to build a combination Sand House/Water Tower. Being enclosed, it was easy to heat the structure to keep the water thawed year round, and it also was easy to use this heat to keep the sand warm and dry as well. Interesting stuff.....