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chopperbill wrote on railspot@yahoogroups.com
Date:
Sun, Nov 9, 2003, 5:36pm
Subject:
RS: It Has Finally Happened - Tower 17 Is Going Away
I went to UP Tower 17 (Rosenberg, TX) today, and
what we have long feared has happened. UP signal crews are now installing
a new interlocker control building that will replace Tower 17, the last
remaining operating tower in Texas. The small metal control building is
in, a microwave link is set-up, and they are working quickly running
wires, etc.
According to a UP official I spoke with about
this, he stated the tentative date for the changeover is the first week of
January, 2004.
The signal guys are going to have to replace all
switches (and possibly the signals as well) that are controlled by the
manned tower because they are not compatible with the current computer
control system.
The tower will come under the direct
control of UP's Glidden Sub Dispatcher based in Spring. We are not sure
how the BNSF will have any control of their line crossing UP at this
tower, but I know their dispatcher sits very close to the UP dispatcher in
the Spring Dispatch Center, so I'm sure it will be easily
coordinated.
The good news out of all this is the fact that the
tower will NOT be torn down! In fact, UP will be moving it a few blocks
east to the Rosenberg
Railroad Museum, where they have already measured
for the concrete base, etc.
I've heard different accounts
about how old this tower is and how long it has been in service...anywhere
from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. It still uses the original
equipment to control the switches and signals (manually pulled levers by
the operator on duty).
We all knew this was coming for many
years, but reality has hit in the fact that it will happen very soon. I
hope everyone has their pictures of
this last operating tower in
Texas, it's surely a classic, and it will be sorely missed.
It's the end of an era.
Bill Waldrop
Houston, TX
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