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Throwback Thursday

Boy do I wish I had more of these types of photos from Phil Boldman. This one comes from Kentland, Indiana, sometime in the 1940's. Wilmer Boldman took this photo of these 3 men as they stopped here. Pictured are left to right:

 

O. V. Sparks, NYC daylight operator at "KN" tower.

 

Thomas Boldman, NYC Track Inspector.

 

Man at right is someone that was riding with Thomas, maybe a dispatcher, superintendent or new official who needed to see the property. He is unidentified.

 

This is the best "old" photo I have ever seen of Kentland tower. Operator Sparks and Boldman both lived in town.

 

This photo is looking north on NYC's Egyptian line. The double-track seen here ran from Morocco to Sheff. Seen past the 3 men is KN tower, the PRR (nee-PCC&StL Ry) diamonds, the Seymour Street (route 24 crossing), the freight depot at right, the semaphore, beyond the signal at left was the small pumphouse shack, across from that at right in the distance was the NYC passenger depot and the building at left of the tracks in the distance looks like a house. Washington Street did in fact cross there at this time, but was long removed by the time I moved there. It also appears that there is a large man standing in the N/E quadrant of the diamonds at right who is looking this way. The coal tower was too far away to see. Looks as though it is noon time by the shadows and cold outside. Trees are empty so it could be early spring. By the 3 mens expressions, it was either very sunny or windy or both.

 

Kentland was the only location between Morocco and Sheff on the double track section that had interlocked crossovers. There was a trailing point crossover on the north side of the plant (just past the 24 crossing) and a facing point crossover on the south side of the plant (just in photo, at the 3 mens feet).

 

The "Egyptian" was going south by here at 12:15 am and north at 4:40 am. Looking at the schedule for the Egyptian, it's no wonder I haven't found any photos of it here.

 

New York Central "KN" tower

Kentland, Indiana

ca. 1940

Wilmer Boldman photo, Phil Boldman collection.

 

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Uploaded on November 4, 2021
Taken circa 1940