Baltimore, MD: Lost/Pennsy Union Junction and B&P Junction Towers

Union Junction: (Satellite, based on the aerial photo below.)

B&P Junction: (Satellite, based on the aerial photo below. The platforms used to stop at Calvert St.)

The Union Junction Tower was geographically west of Pennsy Station North, and the B&P Junction Tower was east of the station. It is interesting that they are called junction towers because there is no junction. They both control the mainline tracks feeding into the station.

Based on the Guilford Avenue Bridge in the background of some of the photos, the name of the eastern tower was evidently changed from B&P to Union sometime in 1985. Consequently, some of the photos listed under Union Junction Tower are in fact of the former B&P Junction Tower. I've added a [B&P] note to those photos that I believe belong in the eastern tower list.

Pennsy Union (Western) Junction Tower

Mark Hinsdale posted
In May, 1983, an Amtrak Northeast Corridor "Regional" train from Washington D.C., is about to depart Baltimore, Maryland for Philadelphia and New York, behind AEM-7 #946.  The north end of the Baltimore station complex was controlled by the operator in Union Junction Tower, seen to the right.  B&P Junction, another tower at the opposite end of the station, controlled the southern approach.  Pennsylvania Station in Baltimore was always a busy place, with trains coming and going frequently, and the occasional freight or maintenance movement usually filling in during the slack periods. May, 1983 photo by Mark Hinsdale
Mark Hinsdale shared

The following eighteen photos are from NorthAmericanInterlockins.

1

2 [B&P]

3 [B&P]

4 [B&P]

5 [B&P]

6

7

8

9

10

11

12 [B&P]

The above and below 1985 photos confirm that both towers were labeled Union Jct.

13

14

15

16

17

18

Pennsy Union/B&P (Eastern) Junction Tower

The following five photos are from NorthAmericanInterlockins.

Both Towers

This confirms that there was never a steel-arch bridge west of the western tower. Note that the platforms used to extend to Maryland Aven on the west side of the station and stopped at Calvert Street on the east side.

Feb 21, 1966 @ 24,000; AR1VBLA00010130

Trains going West are going timecard South, and trains going East are going timecard North.

Amtrak via Railway Age via Progressive Railroading via Dennis DeBruler