Handy, IN: Junction Tower: KBS/NYC vs. KBS/NKP

Brian J Hadley posted

A search on Google found a point south of Bloomington that did not look like it ever was a town. But Bing found the correct spot (below). It looks like the remnants of the tower are still standing and that it was in the southwest quadrant.

Satellite (Google)

Satellite

It appears that KBS is taking good care of their track because the ballast looks fresh. It also looks like they run rather short trains. But that is the advantage of a shortline, they can afford to do that.

The NYC line was the north/south line and it was called the Egyptian line because it used to extend the Kankakee Belt to Cairo, IL. It is now abandoned between Schneider and this junction. And many other segments south of here have been abandoned. The SPV Map indicates that the predecessor was Chicago, Indiana & Southern. The predecessor for the east/west NKP was Lake Erie & Western.

Eric Berg posted

So after spending the last 40 years looking for a shot of this tower in service, I finally was led by Barry Lennon to these 2 taken by the New York Central in 1917.  I also received a bunch of information on them, which I am going to write out below.  Much thanks to the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio, specifically Charles Bates and Morgan Miller for their help in this matter.  Here is the info I now have on this tower.....

Valuation Department Information

Owner:  Indiana Harbor Railroad (CI&S, New York Central owns 100% per contract No. 541 with Lake Erie & Western dated June 1905)

Division or Branch:  Danville

Valuation Section:  250

State:  Indiana

Nearest Station:  Handy

Year Built:  1906

By:  Federal Railway Signal Co.

Contractor:  Charles Hansel Consulting Engineer

Name and Use:  Interlocking Tower

Mile:81

Description:  Two story frame slate roof, hip construction.  Diagonal sheathing, siding-drop and shingles.  Machine floor doubled.  First floor is oak.  No gutters or downspouts, interior ceiled with pins.  I-beams for leadout platform not included in contract.

Dimensions:  15' x 27'

Plan File No.:  Union Switch and Signal Co. Plan No. C-4067

I.H. R.R. Contract No. 545 of April 28th, 1905:  Final voucher No. 1723 of May 1906.  Contractor was paid an extra $128.00 on account of concrete foundation was carried deeper than contract.  Expenditure Ledger Oct. 1914-page 176.  Putting in new cement foundation for new heater.  5 sacks of cement, 18 sacks of sand.

Indiana Harbor RR Crossing the Lake Erie & Western RR

Location:  Handy, Indiana

Call Sign:  "DY"

In Service:  December 30th, 1905

Operated By:  NYC

Maintained By:  NYC

MACHINE:

17 levers for 13 Mechanical & 4 power signals

9 levers for 13 F.P.Locks

5 levers for 5 crossovers

8 levers for 8 derails

39 working levers

9 spaces

48 lever-frame

This photo shows the east side of Handy tower with the double-tracked NYC in the foreground, looking west down the LE&W Peoria division towards Illinois.  The train order signal is for the LE&W and I don't believe Handy was a train order office for the NYC here.  Photo was taken from the platform of the union freight house between the 2 roads.  Passengers may have been able to transfer here, I don't know for sure.  Freight goods could have been offloaded and sent from one railroad to the other.  

New York Central Handy Tower

September 29th, 1917

Photo by the NYC

Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio

Mike Girdwain posted
Abandoned Handy Tower on the kankakee Beaverville and Southern.

Edward Krzyzowski commented on Mike's posting
Spring 2016

Edward Krzyzowski commented on Mike's posting

Edward Krzyzowski commented on Mike's posting

Edward Krzyzowski commented on Mike's posting

Locomotive Jordan posted
I can't remember the date off the top of my head at the moment. Anyways we are at the interlocking of the N.Y.C.'s Danville Secondary with the former N.K.P.'s Frankfort, IN. to Peoria, IL. line. Both lines are now short lines. Both are operated by the Kankakee Beaverville & Southern Rwy., the former N.Y.C. is owned by the Stewart Grain Co. out of Stewart, IN. Their piece of the line is known as the "Bee Line Railroad," and operated by the K.B.S.R. We are at Handy, IN. That is the former N.Y.C. "HANDY," tower. The tracks are still in north of here, but are out of service. Photo was taken by Mark Stanek, it is out of my collection.

Bob Kalal posted ten photos with the comment: "in between Talbot & Ambia Indiana, Handy Tower.
North South was NYC, still heads South from here to Tab & Stewart. East West was New York Chicago and St. Louis, Now KB&S, heads west to Cheneyville & East to Lafayette."

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

(new window)