Philadelphia, PA: Former Pennsy Arsenal and Zoo Towers

Arsenal: (3D Satellite)

Zoo: (Satellite)

Street View of Arsenal, Oct 2021

 

Ron Ricchezza posted

Arsenal tower, on the NEC, just south of 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, today,,, the graffiti is gone again for now ... 

{1/5/2024}

Ron Ricchezza posted two photos with the comment:

Former PRR Arsenal Interlocking Tower along the NEC in Philly. 

Amtrak 79 Carolinian/Piedmont southbound.

{7/8/2025}

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Charles Geletzke Jr. posted
Former PRR (PC-CR) Amtrak, Arsenal tower in Philadelphia, PA on November 26, 1979

Tony Verrecchio: ARSENAL is NOT AMTRAK that's a SEPTA TOWER and INTERLOCKING

Rich White commented on Charles' post
Inside, fall of 2014 🙁 Amtrak B&B escorted tour...

Ron Ricchezza posted, cropped
Dennis T. Reale: Signal power still in there I believe, also sig cables thru the basement it was that way when I retired 17 yrs ago.
Anthony Verrecchia: Dennis T. Reale but remotely controlled for decades.

AltoonaWorks posted

5/2024 - Zoo Tower stands at the junction of the Keystone Line and the Northeast Corridor about 1.3 mi from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.  Photo taken from the rear of an Amtrak Northeast Regional.

www.AltoonaWorks.info

Tim Shanahan shared

Robert Braune: Visited there once. My towers I worked started at Marcus Hook and worked south to Edgewood, Md. tower. Loved those days of my RR career the most. Loved the trains whizzing by waving to the Engineers and Conductors of Freights. Yes they had Cabin cars in those days. The 2 things I remember most are the oscillating light on the Metroliners and the burning smell of the GG1’s.

Ron Ricchezza posted two photos with the comment: "Former PRR Arsenal interlocking on the NEC just south of 30th Street Station in Phila, PA, still surviving, but unfortunately, not in a location that could be used for anything. {2/23/2024}"

Ron Ricchezza: As far as i know ZOO is still an active tower.

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AltoonaWorks added

5/2024 - Zoo interlocking is where Amtrak's Harrisburg Line diverges from the Philly/NYC main.  It's quite a complex junction still today.  Our followers state that ZOO is still manned.

www.AltoonaWorks.info

James McKee Ridgway Jr.

New York Main barely connected to Harrisburg Main anymore.

NY-Pittsburgh Subway track only used for wye moves.

No freight connection at all.

Harrisburg trains come in to 30th Street, change locomotives and/or direction, and proceed to destination…

James Miccolis: James McKee Ridgway Jr. Freight connection was removed under Conrail because it wasn't needed any more.

Freight from northern NJ uses the former LV and Reading lines to Philly. Freight going west of Philly uses former Reading lines, Freight going south goes via CSX.

The goal was to get as much freight off of Amtrak as possible. That's why the 0 track connection at CP Park and the connection at CP Woodbourne were added.

I know because I worked on those signal projects and many others.

Tim Shanahan shared

Vincent Ricciardi commented on the above post

Vincent Ricciardi commented on the above post

1 of 6 photos uploaded to wikimapia, this one by Byberrianfanman
"Former Pennsylvania Railroad interlocking tower now out of service. Once a sprawling plant, it controlled the junction of the West Chester branch, the High Line (elevated freight bypass around/over the 30th Street Station complex) and the Greenwich Yard line with the Main Line (Northeast Corridor). Counterpart to ZOO at southern end of 30th St. Station complex."

Darren Reynolds posted eight images with the comment: "PRRs 'Arsenal' tower 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."

Daniel Kelly: Interior shot is pretty much how it looks now

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"Arsenal" tower was built and put in service on November 13,1932

Photo by: Jeff Gast February 1986

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A GG-1 with passenger train Passes "Arsenal" tower

Photo and date Unknown

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The model board in "Arsenal" tower

Photo and date Unknown

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Work train at "Arsenal" tower November 26,1979

Photo by:C.H.Geletzke

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A passenger train Passes a brand new "Arsenal" tower

January 1933

Photo by Henry Wilhelm NRHS

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A Commuter train passes "Arsenal" tower 1/26/1979

Photo by: C.W. Geletzke

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Interlocking diagram for "Arsenal" tower

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Interlocking diagram for "Arsenal" tower

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

RailfanGuides, this webpage has some detailed maps

SignalBox has an extensive description of the tower.

Trainorders has information about other towers that are still standing in the area.

recdoveryellow has track diagrams.

1949 Philadelpha Quad @ 24,000

Darren Reynold posted two photos with the comment: "PRRs "ZOO" tower.. Philadelphia, Pa."

John E. Murphy Jr.: Broadway tower in Boston was biggest.

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"ZOO" tower 1985 
Photo by: Dan Killinger

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The interlocking machines at "ZOO" tower
Photo by: Unknown

Darren Reynold posted two photos with the comment: "PRRs 'Zoo' tower  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania"

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"Zoo" tower

Photo by: Don Killinger 1985

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Inside of "Zoo" tower

Photo & Date: Unknown

Gary Verdi: They moved the stiles board next to the train director.

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A GG-1 brings a train through "Zoo" interlocking

Photo & Date: Unknown

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"Zoo" tower

Photo & Date: Unknown

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

Gary Verdi: Walked that walkway many days and night!❤️

This photo was taken before they put in a concrete walkway. Then we had to worry about who was going to shovel the walkway. We figured it out pretty quick!

Darren Reynolds posted

"Zoo" tower on December 27, 1978

Photo by: C.H.Geletzke Jr.

Glen Morgan, WV: C&O Coaling Tower and Other WV Coaling Towers

(3D Satellite)

Ted Gregory posted

Built for a different time.

The C&O coaling tower at the rail yard in Glen Morgan, WV still stands and dwarfs the rail cars sitting in front of it.

I have difficulty fathoming the amount of business that the railroad must have had that required a coal dock of such proportion.

Also, the facts that 1) it still stands approximately 70 years after the last steamer filled its tender here, and 2) I am guessing its probably around 100 years old, just speaks volumes on the engineering and construction of the railroad back in those days.

This tower is rare because it still has some of its metal parts.

Street View, Jul 2019

Ted Gregory posted with the same description as the above post
[Some comments talk about the 3 coaling towers in and around New Buffalo, MI]

Edward O Pollock III posted two photos with the comment: "West Virginia has so many old coaling towers still standing.  Does anyone have a list that would place them all in the state?  Glen Morgan, WV."

Tim Shanahan shared

Thomas Dorman: Bluefield WV Norfolk & Western 1952 Coaling Tower 2,000 Ogle Active yard 37.2715, -81.22042

Cane Fork (Eskdale) WV Chesapeake & Ohio 1935 Coaling Tower 50 Ogle 38.09496, -81.44161

Cass WV Cass Scenic Railroad Coal Dock Tourist railroad 38.40176, -79.91191

Elk Run Junction (Whitesville) WV Chesapeake & Ohio Coaling Tower 500 Active track 38.00386, -81.55145

Farm

(Capels, Welch) WV Norfolk & Western Coaling Tower Active track 37.44895, -81.603

Handley WV Chesapeake & Ohio 1919 Coaling Tower 500 Roberts & Schaefer Active track, RER63, RA65 38.18539, -81.35708

Hinton WV Chesapeake & Ohio 1929 Coaling Tower 800 Fairbanks-Morse 4 tracks 37.6782, -80.88397

Iaeger WV Norfolk & Western 1956 Coaling Tower 200 Active tracks, Auville Yard, last constructed 37.45912, -81.81763

Prichard WV Norfolk & Western 1925 Coaling Tower 2,000 Fairbanks-Morse Active track, 6 tracks, Atlas46v1 38.23655, -82.60789

Raleigh (Glen Morgan, Beckley) WV Chesapeake & Ohio Coaling Tower 300 Active yard 37.75867, -81.16131

Ronceverte WV Chesapeake & Ohio 1935 Coaling Tower 75 Ogle Active track, 1 track 37.74904, -80.462

Thurmond WV Chesapeake & Ohio 1922 Coaling Tower 500 Fairbanks-Morse Active tracks, 4 tracks, RME18 p295 37.95993, -81.08153

West Hamlin WV Chesapeake & Ohio Coaling Tower 300 Ogle Active track, 1 track, similar to Balcony Falls, Charlottesville 38.28965, -82.19322

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North Conway, NH: 1874 Conway Scenic/Boston & Maine Depot and Roundhouse

Depot: (Satellite)

Roundhouse: (Satellite)

The Conway Scenic Railroad uses a former Boston & Maine route south of town and a former Maine Central route to the north.

Marty Bernard posted
Conway Scenic Railway Station, N. Conway, NH February 1975, Bill Howes photo.
Marty Bernard shared

Street View, Aug 2018

A view with the train in town.

Street View, Nov 2016

Dave Blaze Rail Photography posted

The Other Side

This depot has been featured on Station Saturday many times because it truly is one of the prettiest and most unique in all of New England.  So here again is the former Boston and Maine North Conway Depot long home to the Conway Scenic Railroad and long the heart of the historic north country tourist village. However every other time I've featured it I've photographed the east side of the building from across the park like this:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1USs9pNftp/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1NoESWaGUW/

For the first time ever there was momentarily no equipment parked on the west side facing the tracks so here's a nice clean unobstructed view of that side with platform and train order semaphore plainly visible. 

Per the National Register of Historic Places record from 1979: 

The principal building in the North Conway Depot and Railroad Yard district is the passenger station, a Victorian eclectic interpretation of Russian provincial architecture. Designed by Nathanial J. Bradlee and constructed in 1874, it is said to have been inspired by the visit to Russia of an official of the Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad. A symmetrical wood-frame and clapboard edifice, the station has a bracketed platform roof (supported by bracketed posts), and twin rectangular towers capped by mansard roof stages with original ornamental iron cresting. Barge-boards, which once decorated the platform roof, are slated for eventual restoration. An unusual convex mansard roof, topped by a rectangular box stage, intersects the main pitched roof of the building. Among the Italian Revival details present are round-arched windows and paired cornice brackets at the end towers. The station is currently painted yellow with white trim. 

Measuring approximately 30 [9m] by 100 feet [30m], the passenger station originally contained 

on its first floor a- ticket office, baggage room, rest rooms, and large but separate men's and women's waiting rooms. Two offices were located on the second floor of the end towers. The original black walnut wainscoting and mouldings are intact and illustrate the carpentry skills of the builders. Subjected to few interior changes, the station today houses a railroad history museum, a redesigned ticket office, a gift shop, a snack bar, and rest rooms. A 1914 heating system has recently been removed and pot-bellied iron stoves, the original source of heat, reinstalled. 

The Portsmouth Great Falls and Conway under lease to the Eastern Railroad became a part of the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1890 when it purchased the Eastern.  The B&M continued to run scheduled passenger service until 1961, and beginning in 1932 dedicated ski trains were run from Boston as the sport of downhill skiing gained in popularity.   To learn more about these trains check out this link: 

https://www.conwaydailysun.com/.../article_6e8ef0ec-533b...

The very last snow train arrived from Boston in February 1972, and on Halloween day of that year the last local freight departed south and the B&M abandoned 22 miles of the branch south to Ossipee.  Meanwhile the depot had been saved by a group of local businessmen in 1968 who later purchased the rail yard and the northernmost 7 miles of the branch and founded the Conway Scenic Railroad in 1974.

[Please use the "posted" link to access these links.] 

For some wonderful historic photos check out this link: 

http://www.nashuacitystation.org/.../north.../gallery/...

And these two articles might be worth your time as well: 

https://rrmodelcraftsman.com/north-conway-new-hampshire.../

https://www.unionleader.com/.../article_9a019544-e75b...

Conway, New Hampshire 

Saturday February 15, 2025

The roundhouse is on the right in this view. The turntable is behind the tree. Note the steam locomotive peaking out beyond the boxcar on the left.

Street View, Aug 2018

Conway Scenic Railroad posted

On Tuesday May 16, 2023, Conway Scenic Railroad received its two new pieces of rolling stock via interchange with New Hampshire Central at Hazens, near Whitefield, NH. 

Conway Scenic Railroad CSRX 400019 was acquired in 2022 and has been stored off line for several months. Originally this was a 44-seat Union Pacific Chair Car, no. 5533, later Amtrak 4573, converted to HEP (headend power) as 4615, and was later Ringling Brothers 43004, and converted for use as a crew sleeper. This car was part of Ringling's Red Train set but later acquired by North Carolina DOT for conversion into a 62-seat coach for intrastate services. That conversion never took place. Conway Scenic acquired this car with the intention of using it as a crew car for seasonal employees.

The other car is number 1216, a former Amtrak Budd-built baggage car that Conway Scenic plans to convert into a headend power car.

CSRR GP9 1751 went to Hazens to collect the new equipment, and brought these cars east via Crawford Notch to North Conway where they arrived about 7:30pm on May 16, 2023. 

Hazens is located at milepost 101 on the former Maine Central Mountain Division and represents the westward limit of Conway Scenic operations. Here the railroad maintains its only active interchange with the rest of the General System. 

Photo at the Hazens interchange by Trainmaster Mike Lacey.

1 of 23 photos posted by Conway Scenic Railroad

On Monday May 15, 2023 Conway Scenic Railroad operated its second annual Mountaineer Social demonstration/familiarization train for the benefit of the railroad's employees, friends and special guests. 

This was the first excursion of the 2023 season to run over Crawford Notch to Fabyan, New Hampshire.

It was a beautiful day for a train ride! Thanks to everyone that worked hard to make this special event possible! And thanks to everyone that came out for a spin on Conway Scenic Railroad.

Conway Scenic's 2023-season Mountaineer begins regular revenue operation on May 27th and will initially operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Conwayscenic.com

J.B. Rail Photog shared

Conway Scenic Railroad posted three photos with the comment: "Last week, Conway Scenic operated a ballast train on the Mountain Division. This was loaded at the State Yard in North Conway (on the Redstone Branch), and ran west to dump stone on the line west of Fabyan as part of the railroad's on going maintenance program.    Photos by Mike Lacey"

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Benld, IL: Superior Coal Co. Mine #3 and C&NW Depot

Mine: (Satellite, treelines still show were parts of the spur went to the east to join the UP/C&NW/LM)

Andy Zukowski posted
Superior Coal Co. Mine #3 in Benld Illinois. 1911

Dennis DeBruler commented on Andy's post
The mine operated from 1905 to 1953. It was served by the Litchfield & Madison Railway, later C&NW.
https://wikiimage.isgs.illinois.edu/ilmines/webfiles/topo-mines/gillespie-south.pdf

Dennis DeBruler commented on Andy's post
https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/webdocs/ilhap/county/data/macoupin/flight10/00ck01030.jpg

Dennis DeBruler commented on Andy's post
1915 Gillespie Quad @ 62,500

Chicago & North Western Historical Society posted
Someone asked to see photos of the Litchfield and Madison depots. Here are two of the depot in Benld, Illinois. The small photo was taken in 1954. Benld is located about 10 mines southwest of Litchfield and just west of Mount Olive (Mother Jones).
Bill Edrington: Thanks for these photos. I remember the Benld depot very well. Harry Craddick was the agent there when I worked for the North Western, until he retired from the railroad and went to work for Exxon Monterey Coal, which operated the Monterey No. 1 Mine, a CNW customer. Benld was the scene of much rail activity until the early 1950s because of the CNW-owned Superior Coal Company mines at Eagarville, Mt. Clare and Wilsonville, and was also where CNW and L&M crews changed on the through freight trains to and from Madison, Illinois.

Washington, IL: TP&W, Santa Fe & GM&O Depots

TP&W: (Satellite, south of the track and next to Wood Street)

Sante Fe: (Satellite, northwest side of the mainline)

GM&O: (Satellite, east of the tracks and just south of Holland Street)

 

Steve Hullcranz posted

TP&W Depot in Washington, IL.

Depot was demolished many years ago.

Photo courtesy of the Washington Historical Society.

Phil Greer: This is the first Washington Depot photo I have seen with a clear view of the GM&O branch.

Richard Fielder shared

Larry Miller III posted two photos with the comment: "TP&W Station, GM&O track crossing TP&W track in Washington, IL Early 1970's not long before the stations demolition - Larry Miller, Jr. photo."

Jerry Heilman: How long has the Santa Fe depot been gone? They closed the Branch down in 1982.

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Denis DeBruler commented on Larry's post
It looks like it was south of the tracks and next to Wood Street.
 https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/webdocs/ilhap/county/data/tazewell/flight3/0bxi04089.jpg

Larry Miller III commented on Dennis' comment
Exactly. This should help...

Dennis DeBruler commented on Jerry's comment
Where was the Santa Fe depot?
Larry Miller III: Dennis DeBruler The Santa Fe Station was just south of Walnut Street on the east end of town. about two blocks south of Saint Patrick's grade school and behind the current Storage Rental area next to RP Lumber.
Jerry Heilman: Larry Miller III in the 1960's and 1970's we had to set out on the short track by the depot. The agent at Eureka would come over to the road crossing East of town and give us track warrants to come out on the TPW and run to Eureka.

Dennis DeBruler commented on his post
I see the GM&O had a branch into this town coming from the north. So I also wonder where their depot was.
1932 Mackinaw Quad @ 62,500
Larry Miller III: Dennis DeBruler In the TP&W Station photos, the GM&O crossed just east of the station and the GM&O station (pictured in one of the comments above) was straight south about a half mile.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Larry's response
Was it east of the tracks and just south of Holland Street per the red rectangle in this aerial?
Larry Miller III: Dennis DeBruler Yes. That is correct.

Santa Fe Depot

Richard Fiedler commented on a post
I believe a Leo Clark photo.

Richard Fiedler posted two photos with the comment: "Santa Fe depot at Washington IL on the Pekin branch. Not sure of the photographers but are either Leo Clark or Paul Stringham."

Richard Fiedler shared

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GM&O Depot

Chris Johnson posted
Washington, IL; June 1973. By Joe Petric.
Roger Kujawa shared
Connor Taylor: Roughly 40.7001304, -89.4104471

Andy Zukowski posted
Washington, Illinois Train Depot of the Gulf Mobile & Ohio Railroad, 1970

Eric Spurgeon commented on Andy's post

River Rouge, MI: CRSA/(NYC(LSMS+MC)+B&O) River Rouge Railyard

(Satellite)

CRSA = Conrail Shared Assets

CN/DTS goes along the west side of the yard.

DTS = Detroit & Toledo Shore Line, joint GTW+NKP, later GTW

3D Satellite

The yellow gantry cranes on the left side of the yard show that part has been converted to handle intermodal traffic.

Craig Hensley Photography posted
CSAO River Rouge
An aerial view looking south over Conrail River Rouge yard as some rain falls from the sky to the south. NS 273 hangs out on the bypass tracks to the right over Coolidge highway waiting for their turn to run north to Livernois. Not a terribly big yard compared to others in the area but it's busy and looks to be full of cars.
CSAO River Rouge - River Rouge, MI - April 2023

1942 Dearborn Quad @ 24,000

Craig Hensley Photography posted
At the north end of Conrail River Rouge, a NS and CPKC(still weird) unit hold tight with a rack train as a northbound CN manifest cruises by to the right. The sun showering the yard with delight golden evening light.
River Rouge, MI - June 2023
Robert Willison: Why is the line still referred to conrail.
Craig Hensley Photography: Robert Willison Conrail has two yards in Detroit that still operate yard transfers and local jobs.
David S. Patch: Robert Willison "Conrail Shared Assets" was set up as part of the Conrail partitioning to be a joint agency for facilities that NS and CSX could not agree to divide. There are three shared-assets zones: two neighboring ones in New Jersey and this one in the Detroit area, which includes River Rouge, Livernois, North, and Sterling Heights yards and associated trackage north of Rockwood and east of CP-TOWN LINE in Dearborn.


 

Warren, OH: Arcelor Mittal/Republic Steel Coke Plant

(Satellite)

Originally, England used charcoal made from trees to power their blast furnaces. But after a while, they had chopped down all of their trees to fuel the blast furnaces to provide the iron needed by their industrial revolution. Thus the discovery of making coke, and that coke worked very well in the blast furnace, allowed England to keep producing iron economically.

The Rust Jungle posted
Thanks to Bob, who worked at Republic Steel Warren works Coke plant for 37+ years, for posting this. The smell of them baking coal into Coke will forever remind me of my childhood, riding with my parents up Main Ave to my grandparents house on the west side of Warren. I would always stick my arm out the window to feel the heat of them burning off what I assume is excess coke gas.

After natural gas was made available in the middle of the 20th Century, heating homes switched from coal to gas; manufacturing plants switched from steam engines to electricity; and railroads switched from steam to diesel engines. The only 1800's market for coal that was left was making coke for use in blast furnaces. (A new market did develop --- electric power generation plants.) Note that the ship that set a record at Norfolk Southern's Pier 6 was taking coal to China to make coke.

Satellite

This is the first time I have seen pictures of a coke plant that is still operational. The filling car is rolled under the coal bunker to fill the car. The car is then rolled to an empty oven to shove the charge of coal into the oven. The oven is sealed and the sides of the oven are heated. This makes the coal hot, but because it is sealed there is no oxygen to let it burn.
The volatile gasses are driven off. What is left is rather pure carbon. Coke burns 4 times hotter than coal. [Railcraft] A quenching car (1 and 2) is then parked at the oven, the door opened and the hot coke is shoved from the other side into the quenching car. The car takes the hot coke to a quenching tower. Maintenance begins on an oven while it is still hot. I could not find a picture of the device that would ride on the loading side (wide spread rails) that has a big plunger that pushes the coke out of the oven into the quenching car.

To achieve the desired coal characteristics, coal from different mines is sorted and blended to achieve the desired properties. [SteelWorks, last paragraph]

 Some comments indicate that this is the coke works. Or was this part of the steel works?

Jon Wolfe posted
Republic Steel Warren Ohio

Bob Thompson posted, cropped
Even a Coke Battery can be "photogenic" 😎
[Some comments indicate that this was in Warren, OH.]

Was this the predecessor for this steel plant?

Jon Wolfe posted

Thomas Steel Strip Corp

Warren, OH