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| Surprising rail preservation story! http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=40398 |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Tue Feb 21, 2017 7:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Surprising rail preservation story! |
Was checking out John Eagan of Hoosier Hobbies FLICKR page today and ran across this photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31385681@ ... ateposted/ There have been some towers preserved in place and others moved and preserved (such as Grasselli Tower at HVRM), but this is the first I have ever heard of a tower being moved and preserved as a non-historical building. I know that depots have been relocated and then used for other purposes, but this interlocking tower is a first for me. Are there possibly others? Les |
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| Author: | robertjohndavis [ Tue Feb 21, 2017 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
It wasn't moved, but the CNJ's "QR" tower in Roselle, NJ is now a dwelling. http://www.rypn.org/briefs/single.php?filename=060824064220.txt |
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| Author: | kevin kohls [ Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
Les: The former PRR and Erie RR Tower at Leetonia, Ohio was moved by a close-by lumber company onto their property. It still has the interlocking machine inside which I believe is a US&S Flip Flop machine. There was a very old PRR tower, an early "signal box" style when they were placed every five miles. Anyway, it existed on the old PRR "Panhandle" and had been moved to a farm. Sadly, the farmer destroyed it in the 1990's. Oops; forgot the PRR one at Brady Lake, Ohio. Kevin K |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Wed Feb 22, 2017 6:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
Kevin - Thanks for that info. Was a bit curious about the relocated interlocking tower at Leetonia, Ohio. Did a bit of looking on the internet and here is a photo from 1987 with the tower still in its original location: http://northamericaninterlockings.com/i ... pp.jpg?895 And this is probably a later view after it was moved: http://northamericaninterlockings.com/i ... rs.jpg?455 Note in the later photo that the window arrangement on the second floor over the door has been changed. To reflect the original window configuration? Also, I'm assuming that the rail line in the 1987 photo is the old Pennsy. Not sure where the old Erie branch line would have come into the picture. Les |
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| Author: | kevin kohls [ Wed Feb 22, 2017 8:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
Les: I believe that was the Lisbon Branch of the Erie RR. Kevin K. |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Wed Feb 22, 2017 11:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
kevin kohls wrote: Les: I believe that was the Lisbon Branch of the Erie RR. Kevin K. Thanks Kevin. I found the timetable for the Lisbon Branch in an Official Guide and note that the Erie crossed the PRR at Leetonia. I looked on a Satellite view of the town and couldn't figure exactly where, in relation to the tower, the railroads crossed. But things have changed a lot over the years I'm sure. Les |
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| Author: | Larry Lovejoy [ Thu Feb 23, 2017 10:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
The Erie and the PRR didn't have a crossing diamond at Leetonia, instead the Erie merged with the PRR from the northeast, crossed over from one side to the other, and exited to the southwest. See the interlocking diagram here: http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/Rail/Prr/M ... etonia.gif The former and present locations of the tower are plainly visible on Google Streetview: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8768279 ... 312!8i6656 /s/ Larry Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P.E. |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Thu Feb 23, 2017 12:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
Larry - That explains it. Thanks very much! Les |
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| Author: | Otto Vondrak [ Thu Feb 23, 2017 7:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
The New York Central tower at Sterling, N.Y., (protecting a junction with the Lehigh Valley) was relocated to the grounds of the Sterling Historical Society: http://www.sterlinghistoricalsociety.org/?page_id=10 It's plainly visible in the street view: https://goo.gl/maps/toJMtiS5W2T2 Even better view:  Maybe this doesn't count because it didn't find a "new" use, but it's definitely not being used as a railroad tower any more. -otto- |
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| Author: | Otto Vondrak [ Thu Feb 23, 2017 7:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
How about the retired LIRR tower at Locust Valley, N.Y.? It was retired in 1975, and the local police have used it as a substation ever since. Still in its original location, as far as I know. Here's what it looks like today: https://goo.gl/maps/ksEaBGFDmKL2 Here's a complete history, with photos: http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/locust ... valley.htm -otto- |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Thu Feb 23, 2017 9:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
Otto - Thanks very much for the information on these two surviving towers in New York. The Sterling tower WAS saved for historical purposes by the Sterling Historical Society, and I'm glad they moved it. The tower looks absolutely great! The LIRR tower in Locust Valley has found a non-historical use (police department) but WASN'T moved from its original location. It too looks wonderful today. What fascinated me as I was reading through the photo story was the reference to a flag being used as an indication for train orders. The "stripe" indicating to trains coming from the opposite direction that there were no orders for them. This is the first I have ever heard about flags being so used, but I wonder if this was an even older system than order board signals? The other interesting thing was that, at some time, a color position signal replaced the double headed semaphore but then a head with a separate single light was added much later. What is this used for? Les |
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| Author: | ebtrr [ Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
Les Beckman wrote: Kevin - Thanks for that info. Was a bit curious about the relocated interlocking tower at Leetonia, Ohio. Did a bit of looking on the internet and here is a photo from 1987 with the tower still in its original location: http://northamericaninterlockings.com/i ... pp.jpg?895 And this is probably a later view after it was moved: http://northamericaninterlockings.com/i ... rs.jpg?455 Note in the later photo that the window arrangement on the second floor over the door has been changed. To reflect the original window configuration? Also, I'm assuming that the rail line in the 1987 photo is the old Pennsy. Not sure where the old Erie branch line would have come into the picture. Les The track diverging to the right in front of the tower in the first photo is the Erie heading north to Niles. The Erie on to Lisbon would be be in the distance out of view. The tower today would be visible in the first photo, across the tracks from the original location, a couple hundred feet down the track, and turned 90 degrees. You can recreate the view in Google street view. https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8767491,-80.7569448,3a,76.4y,239.75h,81.12t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svudblO2Rl_0PS3jy274soA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
I ran across a story on the "Ahead of the Torch" website today, which I thought fit in to this particular thread. The Lansing Model Railroad Club is a HO gauge club near Lansing, Michigan. Their layout is in an old Grand Trunk Western combination depot from the town of Millett, Michigan. There is a long, fascinating, story about the preservation of that depot, which was helped by a donation of land from Gladys Olds Anderson, who was a family member of those who were involved with the Oldsmobile and Reo automobile companies. The subject of this particular thread addition however, has to do with another piece of railroad history that the LMRC has preserved; MA (Michigan Avenue) Tower. Here's a photo: http://www.lmrc.org/matower//ma_tower_stairs_2.jpg MA Tower was erected in the early 1900's and was located at a junction of the Pere Marquette and Michigan Central railroads just outside of Lansing Union Station. Originally preserved by an electric railroad museum, it sat abandoned for something like 30 years before the LMRC saved it, moved it to their site and are currently well along with their efforts to restore it. ANOTHER surprising rail preservation story that certainly fits this particular thread. Les |
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| Author: | EWrice [ Thu Jul 18, 2019 12:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
Not necessarily a tower, maybe you could call it a signal shed. It was located on the GTW between Detroit and Grand Haven at a location known as Penn Junction. This was at a switch just west of the bridge where the GR&I passed under the GTW and connected the two lines. This small building contained signal equipment, housed a speeder, and gave employees a place to do business. When the GR&I (owned by GTW by now) was pulled to Muskegon in the late 80s, and GTW sold what was left of the line west towards Grand Haven, the farmer next to the building bought the building for $15 and moved it to his property where it sits today. Still in good shape too. |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Thu Jul 18, 2019 2:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Surprising rail preservation story! |
EWrice wrote: Not necessarily a tower, maybe you could call it a signal shed. It was located on the GTW between Detroit and Grand Haven at a location known as Penn Junction. This was at a switch just west of the bridge where the GR&I passed under the GTW and connected the two lines. This small building contained signal equipment, housed a speeder, and gave employees a place to do business. When the GR&I (owned by GTW by now) was pulled to Muskegon in the late 80s, and GTW sold what was left of the line west towards Grand Haven, the farmer next to the building bought the building for $15 and moved it to his property where it sits today. Still in good shape too. EWrice - Interesting piece of preservation. Do you happen to have a photo of this signal shed? Les |
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