HQ Tower

[NW Mailing List]

Paul,

Sorry, it's been many years, I cannot recall where I saw the one image 
of the late version. In spite of the high-visibility location and easy 
access, the late version was not as photogenic and apparently lacked the 
photo coverage.

I have not researched written archives yet for the changeover date. 
Recollections are not given to nailing down dates, only that I've heard 
recollections of the early version that could date to the late 
1930s--nothing to narrow the time frame.

The dates of TC upgrades can help. They prompted the changeover of 
operators/towers from an early version to late and/or late to closed. 
The (early) CV Junction mechanical interlocking would have included the 
single crossover on the main and the junction switch off of the 
eastbound main. The changeover to (late) electric "Local" TC would 
include the CV main, but only to the east end of Furnace. Control of the 
main line extended east to the West Yard Pullout; helpful, because 
westbounds routinely fouled the westbound main to double out of the yard.

HQ never extended west on the main line. The main was dark territory all 
the way to Bluestone (so the double crossover at Falls Mills was 
hand-thrown). For HQ to close, TC had to be in place here and on the 
east end of the Valley. This eliminated regular orders picked up at HQ 
by all non-passenger westbounds. Issuance of clearance cards was moved 
to the call office, along with any special orders. Orders and clearance 
cards for passenger runs were always issued at the Bluefield, WV station.

HQ Tower was the third on the main line to close and move to Bluefield. 
Bluestone was the first, following the completion of the east end of the 
Elkhorn realignment in 1950. Eckman would follow with completion of the 
west end to North Fork. With the closing of HQ, the dispatcher in 
Bluefield would control the main west through Vivian. The others would 
close in order going west, starting with Tug in the 1960s, then Iaeger 
and Devon in the 1970s. West of Devon, I'm still trying to gather info 
on the East Williamson operator.

As always, edits, additions and questions welcome.

Grant Carpenter

On 8/26/2021 3:00 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
>
> Grant-
>
> Thanks for the information. I did not realize there was an “early 
> version” and a “late version” of HQ Tower.
>
> Do you know about when the late version was built?
>
> Are there any photos of the late version?
>
> Paul Mandelkern
>
> *From:* NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> *On Behalf 
> Of *NW Mailing List
> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 25, 2021 5:38 PM
> *To:* nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
> *Subject:* HQ Tower
>
> Paul,
>
> Yes, this is the "early version." It was west of the stone twin-arch 
> underpass for Beaverpond Creek and old SR 85 (now 102) to Falls Mills. 
> This tower had levers/rods and a porch where clearance cards and 
> orders could be handed directly to passing crews.
>
> The "late version" I referenced was east of the underpass, had a TC 
> board and orders had to be hooped up.
>
> Grant Carpenter
>
> On 8/25/2021 1:37 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
>
>     The HQ Tower in Bluefield (Graham) Virginia was a two-story wooden
>     structure. See the photo attached.
>
>     Paul Mandelkern
>
>     Winter Park, Florida
>
>
> On 8/24/2021 8:15 AM, Grant Carpenter wrote:
>
> Marty,
>
> Crews referred to them variously as "operator," "tower" or by name. 
> The three mainline Pocahontas towers you mention below, plus HQ tower 
> (the late version), were of a similar frame design. Two exceptions 
> were Devon (mentioned earlier, was in the depot) and Eckman, between 
> Bluestone and Tug. The Eckman operator was in the yard office, a 
> depot-like structure pictured in Alex's book, "The Norfolk And Western 
> In West Virginia 1881-1959" on page 261.
>
> As mentioned, the operator count was a moving target and declined 
> through the 1950s. A handy inflection point that includes those 
> mentioned here was the start of centralizing TC in Bluefield. I 
> believe Bluestone was the first to move and close, barely making it 
> into 1950, then Eckman, then HQ.
>
> Grant Carpenter
>

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