Closing ALTO Tower
Author: Dustin Faust
On June 16th 2012, at 8 am, ALTO Tower was officially closed. Its signals were turned off, the new ones lit, and control of the switches were given to Altoona East Dispatcher. Closing ALTO Tower ended an era not only for Altoona, but for the entire Pittsburgh Line. ALTO Tower was the last manned tower on the Pittsburgh Line. ALTO Tower had stood for around 97 Years. I can't help but feel that a little bit of Altoona died with the closure of ALTO tower. Now the 17st bridge just overlooks some track instead of a fixture of active railroad history.
Photo Gallery
The ALTO Tower sign disappeared off the tower at around 11am. I can only hope that its going to a museum somewhere.
Note the new signals are already lit.
A crane positions itself over the Westbound Signal Bridge
CP Cove takes over for ALTO. Kinda odd that they made the signs blue.
The Old signal lives out its last few hours, while the new signal begins its life.
NS 25Z is the first train through the new CP Altoona.
ALTO Controlled Cove Secondary Switch is replaced with a new switch machine.
NS 20W is one of the last trains to pass an intact ALTO.
A crane positions itself over the Eastbound ALTO signal
An Excavator permanently cuts the power to ALTO.
An NS 058 High and Wide passes inactive ALTO Tower.
A crane hooks up to the Eastbound ALTO Signal.
NS 17G is the last train to pass a fully intact ALTO tower.
NS 17G is the last train to pass a fully intact ALTO Tower. Tower Operator Ron Heiss finishes the last shift of ALTOs last day.
A quiet empty ALTO can now rest after 97 non stop years.
The first cut is made on the Eastbound Signal Bridge at ALTO.
All the Cranes are in position at ALTO and Slope.
ALTO Eastbound Signal is cut from its foundation and begins its move trackside.
Eastbound Signal begins rotating over the main to be placed trackside.
Eastbound Signal begins rotating over the main to be placed trackside.
Eastbound Signal begins rotating over the main to be placed trackside.
Eastbound Signal begins rotating over the main to be placed trackside.
Eastbound ALTO Signal is placed trackside.
Workers begin the first cut on the Westbound ALTO Signal Bridge.
CP Slope Eastbound and Westbound Signals are lifted off the main and placed trackside for scraping.
Wide shot of CP Slope Eastbound and Westbound Signals are lifted off the main and placed trackside for scraping.
Workers continue cutting the ALTO Westbound
Westbound ALTO Signal Bridge is placed trackside for scrapping. No pictures of this movement. I decided to video it.
Westbound ALTO Signal Bridge had a brief moment in an interesting position trackside, before it was cut up into pieces.
Westbound CP Slope Signal placed trackside for scraping. This signal bridge didnt last long like this.
CP Slope Signal Bridge placed trackside for onsite scraping.
Eastbound CP Slope Signal Bridge is set against the embankment. Before the day was out it would be a pile of scrap.
ALTO Tower operator Jeannie places a sign on the side of ALTO Tower stating: "Good-bye from the Operators"
After waiting about 5 hours. NS 400 finally makes its way through the New CP Altoona. Note the Eastbound Slope Signal Bridge sitting against the embankment in the background.
All that remains of the Westbound ALTO Signal Bridge.
Here is a view of the new CP Altoona
NS 20T and NS 961 make their way past an empty ALTO at the new CP Altoona.
NS 20Q and 65J pass through the new CP Altoona.
CP Slope being scrapped.