Wes Carr's Photos from Tower 16

Wes Carr's
Photos from Tower 16: Sherman, Texas

Click picture to see a larger version.

One of the last manned railroad interlocking towers in the state of Texas, Tower 16 in Sherman, closed its doors in October 2001. During its final years of operation, Tower 16 protected the Texas Northeastern (TNER) crossing of BNSF's ex-SLSF Irving (TX) to Madill (OK) main line. Tower operators also served as yardmasters and clerks for BNSF's Sherman Yard.

Now that the Tower is closed, TNER trains enter BNSF trackage through a new connecting track; the diamond crossing of the two lines has been removed. Power switches formerly controlled by the Tower operator are now hand operated. Train movement over the tracks, formerly authorized by signal indication, is now governed by TWC (Track Warrant Control) with an ABS signal system.

The good news regarding the Tower is that it will be preserved... the Tower has found a new home in Grapevine, Texas, where it has been placed alongside Fort Worth & Western trackage near the city's ex-Cotton Belt depot, which serves as the point of origin for the popular Tarantula passenger train. Renovation is currently in progress.

I was fortunate to be able to visit Tower 16 in May of 2001, roughly five months before the Tower was boarded up and its interlocking functions taken away forever. Here are a few photos from my last pilgrimage to the Tower.

WSC

Please click any of the following thumbnails to see a larger image.

Tower 16's 2nd Shift Operator runs a track list

Southbound BNSF train approaches Tower 16 in Sherman, TX

Handoff at Tower 16 - operator gives crew a new train list

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