Eastern Railroad Discussion > End of an Era in Berea

The classic and nearly 100 year old signal bridge on The Norfolk Southern Chicago Line at CP194 in Berea, Ohio was torn down today. The new signals were in place and operating when I stopped by that location this evening.

It looks like the nearly 100 year old ex-New York Central signals were unceremoniously razed using a torch to cut them from their base.


The first shot below shows thenew signals in operation next to the BE Tower with the old signals in the forground.

The second shot is what's left of the old signals.

Another piece of railroad history headed for the scrap yard I imagine.

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time marches on.

thanks for sharing these photos.

chico
http://www.heartlandrails.com

Thanks for the photos. Those old things are cool, but getting a bulb changed can take weeks. A truck is required for the maintainer to access the signals. The new ones are designed to be safer for the people who have to maintain them.

Glad I took these pictures this past Sunday!

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Am I seeing things, or did they erect the new cantilever 90 degrees from its final position and then rotate the whole thing to place it in service? If so, how did they accomplish that manuever. Is it somehow easier that way than installing the support structure in its final orientation and just turning the heads to place the new signals in service?

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
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> Am I seeing things, or did they erect the new
> cantilever 90 degrees from its final position and
> then rotate the whole thing to place it in
> service? If so, how did they accomplish that
> manuever. Is it somehow easier that way than
> installing the support structure in its final
> orientation and just turning the heads to place
> the new signals in service?

You are not seeing things.

I got to Berea just as the work was finishing up and the crews were driving away. I did see 2 large truck mounted cranes leaving the area, so I imagine they did the heavy work of lifting and turning the entire bridge 90 degrees.

Supposedly the new bridge would have blocked the view of the old one, so it was built and wired before rotating the entire thing.

The NYC had interesting looking cantilever structures. That particular one looked well used.

I can honestly say that the new structure looks a whole lot safer. Imagine being the guy who has to climb up those skinny little ladders way up there on the old tower, then brace yourself, then reach for a tool in your pouch, then reach w-a-y o-u-t to unscrew the backing on the signal head, then fidget with it, then replace the.... That's a bit scary.

The new ones are way safer, at least compared to this old structure.

And I forgot to add: is it just me, or has the signal manufacturer started making bigger backing plates to help increase visibility of the signal??! If so, then my rantings have been heard!

I knew this day was going to come eventually but I always enjoyed the older signals around there. It was a fantastic place to watch trains, especially before they built that one office building down the road a bit. That was the sweet spot.

So, what do you think the chances are of offering somebody some cash for one of those targets? Or is there an actual proper way to acquire something like that? They're going to be scrapped anyway.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/09 08:44 by Emmo213.

One signal maintainer told me that not only that but the top could sway a little in the wind...


Coach Wrote:
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Imagine being the guy who has to
> climb up those skinny little ladders way up there
> on the old tower, then brace yourself, then reach
> for a tool in your pouch, then reach w-a-y o-u-t
> to unscrew the backing on the signal head, then
> fidget with it, then replace the.... That's a bit
> scary.
>
> The new ones are way safer, at least compared to
> this old structure.

NS has been using larger targets on its new signals for a few years now. I'm sure the engine crews love it.

Hearing about the doomed "signal bridge" I assumed everyone was talking about the structure at the west end of the plant in Berea, not the cantilever by the tower. It's not a "bridge" if it doesn't have legs at both ends.

I am surprised the tower survives. Who actually owns it now?
The way the railroads used to demolish buildings to save on taxes you would think this one would be gone as well, plus it would
increase line of sight as well. Just curious as to why they left it.
Greg Scholl

I have heard that the tower either still has equipment in it, or that the maintainers use it, kind of like the NKP depot in Rocky River.

All is not lost however. They could have torched the posts or supports and let it all fall which would have destroyed all of the history there. Maybe someone can save the targets. I'd be asking very quickly brfore its too late.

Wow, I'm glad I decided to make my first trip to Berea one week ago and snap a shot of the bridge. I had planned to go to Wellington instead that day, but low train counts on the CSX Cleveland line the day before made me rethink my plans.

Rich

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CSX usually lets towers rot in place until someone complains.


doubleheader Wrote:
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> I am surprised the tower survives. Who actually
> owns it now?
> The way the railroads used to demolish buildings
> to save on taxes you would think this one would be
> gone as well, plus it would
> increase line of sight as well. Just curious as
> to why they left it.
> Greg Scholl

As for the tower's survival, I'm pretty sure the maintainers still use it; I often see hi-railers parked there when I pass by. At this point, I'm not sure whether CSX or NS is responsible for the building.

Conrail, by the way, was usually very quick to tear down surplus structures, so they must have had a reason for keeping it.

Norfolk Southern makes use of the old BE Tower these days. Their maintainers use the upper floor and radio and switching equipment occupy the lower floor. There was considerable activity in the lower part of the building when the new signals were being cabled.

If you want to see a tower that looks like it might collapse all on it's own take a trip to Nova, Ohio and check out the tower on the CSX New Castle Sub.

Rich K

RichK Wrote:
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> Norfolk Southern makes use of the old BE Tower
> these days. Their maintainers use the upper floor
> and radio and switching equipment occupy the lower
> floor. There was considerable activity in the
> lower part of the building when the new signals
> were being cabled.
>
> If you want to see a tower that looks like it
> might collapse all on it's own take a trip to
> Nova, Ohio and check out the tower on the CSX New
> Castle Sub.
>
> Rich K

Yeah that one was ready to collapse at anytime when i was out that way 7 yrs ago and im suprised its still standing yet!

PasadenaSub Wrote:
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> Wow, I'm glad I decided to make my first trip to
> Berea one week ago and snap a shot of the bridge.
> I had planned to go to Wellington instead that
> day, but low train counts on the CSX Cleveland
> line the day before made me rethink my plans.
>
> Rich

Good choice. Shot yesterday, here is how the cantilever looks on a flatbed truck heading for scrap :
RAD

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