NYC Near Jeffersonville IN

A Northbound passing WS Tower near Jeffersonville IN
Tom Swart Photo, Chad Quick Collection.

 

What was WS Tower protecting? I don't see any evidence of an interlocking or diamond.

 

It looks like there used to be a crossing there. That looks like a roadbed cutting across, but there's no sign of a street crossing.

 

I thought the same thing. Then realized the ballast trail ran into the side of the building, or at least the staircase.

 

I love the shot Roger! I think WS Tower stood in Watson, IN where the PRR and B&O crossed. The B&O and Big Four shared the same rails, so seeing an NYC train at WS makes sense. I think the PRR is in the distance under the NYC train, but covered by lineside foliage. I'm not certain though. Very close by and southwest of WS was a second tower in Jeffersonville, IN, known as BOYD on the PRR and X on the B&O.

 

That's an interesting order board too, right next to the upper window

Looks like maybe there were some tracks heading off behind the tower, near that pole line?

 

I think you hit on it Kurt. What you found seems to intersect with some rails I see to the right side under the first few cars of the train.

 

That's all I can think of, a connection to an old line behind the photographer?

 

No, it just looks that way because the tower sits on higher ground.

I think the tower's in use, but not sure. It looks like there are fluorescent lights lit inside, but the sun's low enough to shine a strip high on the wall.

 

I love those old towers. Any idea the year it was taken, Roger? Might explain the lack of obvious other tracks.

 

I found WS's layout on IndianaRailroads.org which is an active and interesting site. WS can be seen below the horizontal line (the B&O), just right of center. Looking at the photo that Roger posted with WS to the left of the track in front of it, we can see that the track Kurt spotted is the PRR and it does cross the B&O. To the photographer's right would have been another B&O connection. Cool stuff!

 

Everyone is correct ,or almost. The train is headed north ,B&O east coming from Jeff yard on its way to South Anderson . The track the train is on was 30 mph . Let us turn the train around and head it south ,or B&O west. If we go east about 6 miles we come to Charlestown. From Charlestown to WS is straight as a string and slightly downhill . We would have the trains in high gear about 60 mph and set the air about 2 1/2 miles east of WS tower
if we had a clear signal . It worked out just right for the 30 mph . East of the tower and behind the person taking the photo the track turned to the right going to New Albany . The reason for all of the tracks was the ammunition factory at Charlestown almost going to WS tower .They worked it at both WS and Charlestown . It was 5 miles from here to the NYC yard at Jeffersonville . On a west bound 4-5 miles east of Charlestown and it was my turn to be running the engineer ask ,where are you going to go for the passenger train that was coming out of New Albany . I was figuring on going in ,Ok. Coming through Charlestown at 65 mph the engineer said ,I thought you were going in. I said I am to WS tower ,oh I thought you meant
Charlestown . Think you have time ? Yes And we cleared him by 4 min. instead of 5 . When the tower man at WS could see we were making a run for it ,in other words come to WS for the meet they would line it up for Jeff because he knew we were calling it close . Well that was the way it was in the old days . LEW

 

WOW, that's great LEW. Sure was simpler before the Feds entered railroading to "help" you.

 

I believe the year was 1965.

 

Thanks, Roger. LEW, your memory and attention to detail is amazing. Thank you for as usual clearing this up, because you were there.

 

Worked WS Tower at Watson, IN in 1966 - during that period of time B&O trackage was the only trackage being used. Signals on the PRR routes of the interlocking were being maintained by the B&O Signal Maintainers - that being said, trees 6 to 10 inches in diameter were growing in the gauge of the PRR trackage. During my days of working WS Tower I never saw a NYC movement on the block sheet, nor did I see one in person.

My understanding it that the Tower and interlocking were built during WW II to give the PRR access to the Charlestown Ammunition depot. With the end of the War, traffic from the Ammunition Depot shrank precipitously and the PRR stopped servicing the pant. The ICC for its reason would not permit the PRR to abandon the trackage.

 

Interesting additional details mmi16! Thanks for your post.