De Long, IN: MD Tower: Erie vs. Pennsy

(Satellite)

Michael Dye posted six photos with the comment:

Delong Tower (Telegraph call - 'MD'), at Delong, Indiana. This PRR tower protected the interlocked crossing of the Erie's Marion Division (Chicago-Jersey City) mainline and the PRR's [PCC &St L] (Logansport-South Bend) branch. Owned by the PRR, the interlocking was maintained by the Erie/EL.

1
The PRR diagram of Delong interlocking. Found online - Source/Credit unknown.

2
An Eastbound Erie freight, led by what appears to be an Erie 'Berkshire'. Found online - Source/Credit unknown.

3 A view of the original combination tower and depot, which originally guarded Delong crossing. It appears that the Erie crew are looking at something concerning the Erie's train order signal. Found online - Source/Credit unknown.

4
A view of a Southbound PRR motorcar passenger train. Found online - Photo credit: Harry Zillmer - 1947.

5
An Eastbound Erie passenger train, led by a F3A-B-A set. Date: 1947 or later. Found online - Photo credit: M.D. McCarter.

6
A Northbound PRR passenger train, with what appears to be a K-4 'Pacific' leading. Found online - Source/Credit unknown.

Michael Dye shared the above post

IIRC, the PRR, as a through line, was downgraded after the closure of the Studebaker plant in South Bend, and was severed after a track fault derailment near Twin Lakes, around 1966. The two halves (Logansport to Culver, and South Bend to Plymouth) were operated sporadically, until abandonment in 1973-1974. The Erie, went to EL. Then, after Conrail abandonment, was operated by the Erie Western, and then the Chicago and Indiana, until 1979. In 1983, the ROW was bought and scrapped by the L.B. Foster Company.