Inside CSX WEST CUMBO TOWER 1990

Inside old B&O Interlocking Tower "West Cumbo" at Hedgesville, WV with passing CSX trains. Other towers visited are "Hardman", "West End" and "Terra Alta" (CSX Track Inspector Terry White calls Altamont to check for train activity from inside the tower).
The video opens at Brunswick with a view of "WB" Tower, and the old Brunswick Roundhouse.
Date: 1990

[@choirboyfromhell1]

Love those old B&O Towers, with the telegraphic call letters in the window.

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

Hardman closed in June of 1998 and was gone by 2000. By the time CSX closed it, it looked far worse than these 1990 views. WS at West End closed circa 1984 and was still in good condition in 1990. It is now so overgrown with brush and trees that it is hard to see in summer. The steel stairs have been removed and the building is in terrible shape. I haven't been by there in two or three years, but word from a local is it still stands in decaying decrepitude. I was only in WS one time (May 1984), and it was a short visit as the operator was not very friendly - the only "bad" experience I ever had in my railfanning days. Terra Alta was closed around the same time as WS, but was kept in operable condition (at least as long as the plant existed) and was a handy place for track inspectors to call the dispatcher. Sturdy CA at Terra Alta also fell to the wreckers a few years ago.

[@timledger4345]

I believe the horn could be turned on so if the operator was outside he could be warned of an oncoming train

[@ChadQuick270W]

Yep. The B&O had nice towers. I liked their little TO flag out there with the red and yellow lights as well that each TO office had. What a shame this is all gone now and looks like every other railroad with generic hooded color light signals and no local control.

[@bobozo389]

Check out BO Tower Kalamazoo, MI- March 1991, as we go inside for a look around at the end of the video, They just closed the tower Oct 25 2016, Bob...

[@lasalleman]

Bet that tower could be moved and rehabbed as a residence. Be nice for someone with DIY skills. I'd like to own it.

[@kurtiskaskowski5386]

no graffiti on the cars! I miss this time period

[@erikmcc804]

me too...

[@cbehr91]

What was the point of "ah-ooh-guh" horn?

[@V8FordTempo]

+cbehr91 2.0 Maintainer call horn.. or crew warning.