Monday, April 4, 2022

Brunswick, MD: Roundhouse and Preserved 1910-2011 B&O West Brunswick (WB) Tower, Depot and Caboose

Roundhouse: (Satellite, just the foundation and unused turntable)
Tower: (Satellite, see below for the saved image since it will be disappearing)
Museum: (Satellite)

The Brunswick Museum interprets the C&O Canal as well as the B&O Railroad.
 
Dave Henderson posted
Dennis DeBruler: Does anyone know where this roundhouse is located?
Luther Mumaw: Dennis DeBruler, it was Brunswick roundhouse. It is no longer there. But the turntable is. It is rumored that CSX AND MARC are going to go together and put turntable back in service.

This is  the first time I've seen a turntable that still exists but without any tracks to it.
Satellite
Dennis DeBruler commented on Luther's comment
Thanks. Brunswick, OH, was close to B&O, but not close enough. Brunswick, MD, was a winner. The foundation also still exists so we know the outline of the roundhouse, https://maps.app.goo.gl/SE8V5g2UNiYGnHmJ7.

In addition to interior and exterior photos of the tower, position-light has a lot of photos of Colored Positional Light signals since this was a B&O mainline and the blog is a signaling blog. Because this tower controlled a commuter train yard as well as mainline crossovers, there are several photos of dwarf CPL signals. The position-light blog also includes some photos of pneumatic point machines, which were used because this area is flood prone and air cylinders tolerate water better than do electric motors. CSX closed most of the towers along this line in 2004, but this one made it until 2011 because it controls access to the engine servicing facility that MARC uses.

PreservationMaryland
"Among the remaining links to this history is the ca. 1920 WB Tower situated close alongside the still-active tracks. It was the last tower in operation on the line when it closed in 2011."
[The tower was moved on Apr 2, 2022 to the left across the tracks and into a city park.
The white shack on the platform holds the new signaling equipment. That platform is higher than those used for the old equipment because of flooding problems.]

Darren Reynolds posted five photos with the comment: "B&O    "WB" tower(West Brunswick)    Brunswick, Maryland."
Darren Reynolds posted these five photos again.
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Darren Reynolds posted four photos with the comment: "B&Os "WB" tower ( West Brunswick) Maryland."
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"WB" tower has a Pneumatic interlocking machine
(Pennsy style) The tower at one time control Harper's ferry, Weaverton And East Brunswick From three CTC Machines now on display at the Brunswick rail museum.
Photo by: Dan Maners

2
On July 1976 three light Engines are making moves
In front of the B&Os YMCA on the left.And "WB" tower
On the right.
Photo by: Robert Staples

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"WB" tower has New aluminum siding in the winter of
2002 as a westbound passes the tower on 1/20/2002
Photo by: George W. Hamlin

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"WB" tower has moved Across the tracks at about the same Location Charlie took this picture. Note the train order stand to the right.
Photo by: Charlie Whipp
All images from North American interlockings States A to Z and Canada..
 
Frankie Foster commented on the above post
Here it is being Moved and it's new spot.

In Aug 2021, they had already started on the new foundation near Potomac Street.
Street View, Aug 2021

Brunswick used to have a railroad yard that stretched all the way to Knoxville.
1953 Harpers Ferry and Point Of Rocks Quads @ 1:24,000

The town has also preserved a caboose and...
Street View

...its depot.
Street View

Marty Bernard posted
Joint B&O-Amtrak Westbound Station Brunswick, MD February 4, 1979, Bill Howes photo.
Thomas Dorman: E. Francis Baldwin, architect.
Anne Thomas: Why is the parking lot flooded?
Matt Tjaden: Anne Thomas the Potomac Rive is only a few yards away and this area has always be prone to flooding.
Marty Bernard shared

And it has built a viewing stand for the railfans.
Street View

The tower will be disappearing from this image because it was moved on Apr 2, 2022.
Satellite

This web page of PreservationMaryland dates the tower as 1910. Five images from that page:
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They didn't just paint it red, that is relatively new siding.
BrunswickMDhistory
B&O Railroad YMCA and WB Tower at Brunswick, MD on Aug. 17, 1974.
(Photo by Stan Short)  Richard Cummings: My father in law, Bill Wilt, worked in this tower. He was the signal maintainer for the B&O.

Janet Cugini, Oct 2021

pinterest
Caboose track behind the B&O roundhouse, Brunswick, MD 1974.

City of Brunswick, Maryland History Commission posted,    22,523 x 9,716 pixels
David Mcintosh shared
 
David Mcintosh posted


Information concerning the move



railfan
A westbound CSX freight passes West Brunswick (WB) Tower on May 16, 2005. On Saturday morning, the structure will be moved off the railroad property for preservation. Photo by M.T.Burkhart.


Andy St John posted
WB Tower in Brunswick, MD is ready to move! On Saturday, April 2, 2022 it will be moved across the tracks (to the left in this picture) for preservation in a new location, in a city park.

Andy commented on his post
The tower is now safe on its new foundation.

safe_image for 10:09 YouTube video

The City of Brunswick, MD, posted two photos with the comment: "We are excited to announce that the City of Brunswick will begin the renovation of the exterior of the historic WB Tower next Monday, January 15th [2024]. The WB Tower is an early 20th century railroad tower that was moved to a new location on April 2, 2022, after a decade-long effort to save it from demolition. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and represents a significant part of our railroad heritage. The project will restore the tower's original appearance by removing the non-historic siding, painting the historic wood, replacing the doors and trim, and building a viewing platform. It will take three months to finish, and this is the first step in the multiphase plan to create the new B&O Railroad Park. Thank you for your support and patience."
Andrew Coblentz shared
Andrew Coblentz shared
Dennis DeBruler shared
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