Location: South Bend, IN - HF Tower

HF Tower, also referred to as NF-HX Tower, was an interlocked junction. "HF" was located 1 mile west of the NYC passenger station on the NYC main line through South Bend. [ETT-1947]

The tower was owned and operated by the New York Central, a successor to the LS&MS. The interlocking was a General Railway Signal (GRS) pistol grip machine with 304 levers. 

Photo Info: Top three photos are of HF/Bend Interlocking in South Bend IN in 1977. [Charles Geletzke Jr.] The 4th photo is a track diagram of HF in 2004. The 5th photo is an NYC track diagram from 1964.

Notes

"HF" Tower was built in 1930, when the GTW abandoned their own line through downtown South Bend. This was the original crossing of the GTW and NYC. It was upgraded with a new tower and interlocking machine and became a junction rather than a crossing. Prior to 1930, this site had an older tower to regulate the crossing.

"HF" controlled from east to west, the following control points:

• High Street - where the GTW joined the NYC line on its new route through South Bend.
• Union Station - used after 1930 by both the NYC and GTW. Between Lafayette and Prairie Avenues.
• "HF" tower - at S. Scott Street - location of at least four crossovers between the NYC and GTW tracks as well as the west entrance to Union Station.
• Olivers Junction, where the GTW left the main line to go to Chicago
• The crossing of the main line with the north-south Michigan Central South Bend branch.

"HF" Tower was the beginning of the NYC Kankakee Belt Line which ran southwest parallel to the GTW main line beginning at Arnold Street.

The distance controlled by "HF" was 3.68 miles, a large territory. All of the territory was completely elevated. Traffic through this interlocking in 1930 was 70 NYC trains, 40 GTW trains and six yard movements every 24-hours. It was a busy operation. [GTWHS-2024-Sum]

The new interlocking plant was constructed by General Railway Signal Co. and was a Model 5-B electric interlocking machine, having 259 working "pistol-grip" style levers and 9 spare levers in a 304 lever frame. 36 levers in this machine were reserved for a planned extension to operate the "MC Connection" via remote control, to be installed in 1935. The model board was 24 feet long.

The new tower was three stories tall above street level, two above track level, and constructed of brick. It was 70 feet long by 17 feet wide. The basement contained batteries, cable terminals, a coal bunker and furnace. The second floor had a room for relays and charging equipment and an office for the signal maintainer, who likely attended the area full time on multiple shifts. The tower was manned by a NYC train director and leverman.

The tower was renamed "Bend" in 1976 by Conrail. It was closed in 1996 and remoted by Conrail's Chicago West Dispatcher located in Dearborn, MI. It was subsequently renamed CP 487. [GTWHS-2024-Sum]

Our thanks to historian Jim Harlow and the Grand Trunk Western Historical Society for this research.

Prior to the closing of the tower, only 102 levers were working with over 100 spare levers and spaces. At the time, the GTW only had access to the two Conrail main tracks and not the remaining freight main lines. [Conrail track diagram]

Time Line

1930. The new "HF" Tower is placed into operation after the GTW abandons its old route through downtown in favor of using the NYC line. One of the main purposes of this change was to eliminate grade crossings through South Bend. The new tower replaced an older tower at this crossing.

1935. The MC Connection crossing is added to the interlocking plant here.

1976. Conrail renames "HF" as "Bend" tower and later renames it CP 487.

1996. Bend interlocking is remote controlled by the Conrail Chicago West Dispatcher (in Dearborn) and the tower is closed.