Those of us lucky enough to hve been exposed to the unique cameraderie that developed in the days of interlocking towers and train order offices lost another piece of that culture this week.
The former B&O's combined station and interlocking tower at Newton Falls, Ohio, at one time a junction between that line's Pittsburgh-Chicago main and an ore-traffic feeder to Fairport Harbor, was heavily damged in a freight derailment on Monday and reportedly razed yesterday.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 7445992218
Photos of the interior of the tower and its interlocking panel once graced the home page of a Yahoo group. Its suitability for other purposes prolonged its service in those capacities long after refinements of CSX' centralized dispatching system rendered its original purpose superfluous.
To the best of my knowledge this is the first instance of loss of a tower to a derailment since another accident on former B&O property, at Confluence (Ursina), Penna. in the summer of 1986. That tower was still manned, and the operator was probably the last of his trade to die in the line of duty.
The avoidance of any injuries is the only solace we can find in this loss of another old friend.
The former B&O's combined station and interlocking tower at Newton Falls, Ohio, at one time a junction between that line's Pittsburgh-Chicago main and an ore-traffic feeder to Fairport Harbor, was heavily damged in a freight derailment on Monday and reportedly razed yesterday.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 7445992218
Photos of the interior of the tower and its interlocking panel once graced the home page of a Yahoo group. Its suitability for other purposes prolonged its service in those capacities long after refinements of CSX' centralized dispatching system rendered its original purpose superfluous.
To the best of my knowledge this is the first instance of loss of a tower to a derailment since another accident on former B&O property, at Confluence (Ursina), Penna. in the summer of 1986. That tower was still manned, and the operator was probably the last of his trade to die in the line of duty.
The avoidance of any injuries is the only solace we can find in this loss of another old friend.
What a revoltin' development this is! (William Bendix)