Interlocking: B Tower, Elkhart, MI

B Tower in Elkhart, Indiana was the junction (and crossing) of the NYC Old Road and the NYC main line. This crossing was located just east of the Elkhart passenger station. Though this would seem to be a junction at first glance, the old road actually crossed the westbound main and connected with the east bound main here.

In the mid-2010's, Norfolk Southern rebuilt the interlocking here (CP 421) and the former Old Road connected directly with the westbound main, eliminating the crossing.

Image info: Looking north on the original "Old Road" towards White Pigeon. The "air line" main line is behind the photographer.  1977. [Charles Geletzke Jr. photo]. 2nd, a streamlined NYC locomotive heads east on the main line around the curve at South Main Street in 1945. Note that "B" Tower was quite a ways north of the junction that it controlled. There was also a separate crossing-watchman tower here.

Notes

The branch line northeast from "B" Tower was originally double tracked. By 1945, it was single tracked, though is "crossed" the westbound main and joined the eastbound main.

"B" was also the east entrance to the station tracks at the NYC Elkhart station.

Time Line