Watson, IN: (WS) Tower: B&O vs. B&O+Big Four vs. Pennsy

(Satellite)

Derren Reynolds posted three images with the comment: "B&Os "WS" tower...Watson, Indiana."

Curtis Tate: Still standing, last I knew, but not in great condition.

Tony Dobbs: Razed in 2021 unfortunately

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MP Rail Photography posted

CSX 3194 and 3284 are manned helpers on a loaded coal train heading eastbound on the Mountain Subdivision.  The helpers are seen passing WS Tower which is at the west end of the Kingwood Tunnel.

March 29, 2025

West End, West Virginia

Power:

CSX 3284 - ET44AH

CSX 3194 - ES44AH (Spirit of Law Enforcement) 

MP Rail Photography shared

I knew that the B&O used the Kentucky & Indiana Terminal (K&IT) Bridge to get their trains to the Louisville, KY, market. Now I understand what route they used to get to that bridge.

B&O shared a Big Four route that went south from North Vernon, IN, to the Big Four + B&O Bridge over the Ohio River. In fact, a majority of the maps label this route as B&O even though the bridge is called the Big Four Bridge. At Watson, B&O had a spur that went west to the K&IT Bridge. This topo map is one of the maps that labels the route shared with the Big Four as B&O. The black line just south of the B&O line between Watson and Penn Central at Clarksville was another Pennsy route.

1965 Louisville Quad @ 250,000

The US military used to have a big presence in Jeffersonville. It had a reservation near its downtown.

1955 Jeffersonville Quad @ 24,000

And the Indiana Arsenal was up by Watson. Because of the many small buildings spread out across the land, they probably stored explosives (munitions) here. The Watson Junction is in the lower-left corner of this extract.

1955 Jeffersonville Quad @ 24,000

I noticed that the B&O also had a depot in New Albany, IN.

1951 New Albany Quad @ 24,000