Altoona, PA: NS/Pennsy ALTO (JK) Tower

(Satellite)

This tower was also named "JK." [AltoonaWorks]

Street View

Street View

Warren Calloway posted
Alto Tower at Altoona, PA Warren Calloway photo
Douglas Allen: EMD GP40-2 Diesel Loco
Randall Hampton shared

Dennis DeBruler commented on Randall's share

As of at least Nov 2020, it was still standing.

https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0...

 

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘀𝘆𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮  posted
Paul James Pritchard shared
Darren Reynolds: Inside of Alto
John Wood: The equipment was soo impressive when first installed that tower operators worn suits to work. In my time when computers were introduced in the train dispatchers office the new guys wore blue jeans. Working in a restricted access office space for 35 years can result in a lot of money saved on attire. 😄
Leon Duminiak: I had an opportunity to operate some of this equipment in the 1990s when I was invited to come up to watch tower operations by the ALTO tower operator. It was impressive to find that old equipment still operating flawlessly after being in service for so many years. The same couldn't be said for some of the newer switch and signal equipment in the yard.
Jackson-Township historical preservation posted a copy
Railway Interlocking Machine in the city of Altoona, Blair County around 1940.
Darren Reynolds shared
"Alto" tower. Inside  (Sorry no date)

Ron Stafford: JK tower / 17th Street. Changed to ALTO in February, 1942.

 

Peter James Paras commented on Darren's share
Alto Tower.

Photo via AltoonaWorks
Late 1800s

Richard Hafer posted
This what you get when you dig deep in your files for something different. It is listed as PRR JK Tower Altoona Machine & Leverman Ralph Mason 1940s. That shows a real old school Tower (Block on PRR) Operator's Job looked like back in the day. Rich Hafer collection.
Chuck Earley: He probably had to use a telegraph to boot.
Richard Hafer: Probably the Opr did, the leverman just handled the interlocking machine.

Darren Reynolds posted six photos with the comment: "ALTO tower Altoona,Pa."

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George Ford Jr: Penn Central told us about a rule “Nothing on the Machine” did it only apply to former NH ones ?

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Darren Reynolds posted seven photos with the comment: "Pennsylvania Railroads     'Alto' tower    Altoona, Pennsylvania."

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"ALTO" tower was the last tower to close on the Pittsburgh line..

Photo by: Bruce Vogel (No Date)

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The operator at "Alto" tower copies a time down on the train sheet..

Photo by: Chip Syme ( No Date)

Ralph Primerano: The Opr. In this picture appears to be Scott Glover. I worked with Scott on the Pittsburgh Division in the 70's.

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The old interlocking machines at "Alto" tower

Photo by: Chip Syme ( No Date)

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The model board at "Alto" tower

Photo by: Chip Syme ( No Date)

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The CTC machine for "Slope" interlocking At "Alto" tower

Photo by: Chip Syme ( No Date)

Marc Lingenfelter: I remember hearing this was right behind the operator was sitting at their desk.

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A Conrail train passes by "Alto" tower on May of 1999

Photo by: Chris Kunz

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Inside of "Alto" tower

Photo by: HAER

All images from North American interlockings States A to Z and Canada..

safe_image for Brian D Plant Flickr

Sometime in the last year or so, ownership of ALTO tower was transferred to the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum.  The tower was closed June 2012. 

Unfortunately we have no further information.

Photo by Brian Plant 5/2018

Norfolk Southern's executive train made a trip from Chicago-Harrisburg last week [May 2018] with a layover in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. Many of us took advantage of Thursday's spectacular weather and the prospect of this being the final trip past classic Pennsylvania Railroad position light signals. Altoona has already lost its PRR signals, but the steam-era ALTO Tower still stands, though is no longer manned. NS F9A 4270 leads the way with a classic A-B-B-A lash-up.