Indianapolis, Indiana, was once a crossroads with numerous railroads calling. The Monon, Big Four, Pennsylvania, Illinois Central and Baltimore & Ohio all called there. Much of the traffic funneled through Indianapolis Union Station, a downtown structure that served all five roads and still stands today.
On the east side of the station, this large brick tower was built to control the many tracks through the station and the interlocking plants at either end. The tower remains today and while it is no longer manned, it continues to house signal equipment.
The tower shows off its Pennsylvania Railroad heritage in its design, while the sign displaying the interlocking’s current designation of C.P. IU is pure Conrail. Following the splitting up of Conrail between CSX and Norfolk Southern, this piece of railroad is now in the hands of CSX. Trains of Norfolk Southern and regional carrier Louisville & Indiana also pass through the plant, while Amtrak’s Cardinal continues to call at Union Station.
On a November day in 2002, the old brick interlocking tower was still looking well maintained as a CSX local rounded the east leg of the wye onto the former Pennsylvania Railroad mainline.
Mary McPherson – Photograph and text Copyright 2020