PHOTOS: WINSLOW Exposed

I recruited the same friend to be a reserve on my local pub trivia team. To avoid the horrendous DC area traffic he catches the MARC Cemden Line to Dorsey where I can pick him up. When his train is on time he will meet a westbound train from Baltimore and arriving a few minutes early I found the track #1 signal at DORSEY interlocking displaying Clear for said westbound move led by MARC split level cab car #8058.

The eastbound train from Washington arrived with cab car #8051 on the end. Ridership on the line has been growing, but is still well below pre-COVID levels.

Heading up to Philly on the 7am Acela with power car #2022 leading. With the BOGO coupon this premium service only cost us each about $25.

Completing the cross town transfer from 30th St Station to South Jersey with SEPTA Silverliner IV #184 and PATCO car #1104 (see departing for 15th/16th.).

Winslow Junction was hosting the same quartet of MLW M420 locomotives, #3517, #3519, #3578 and #800, which still in the NYO&W paint job that indicated the personal railfan interests of the former owner.

Our first surprise of the day was CMSL GP38-2 #2661 switching cars on the Conrail interchange up on the former Atlantic City RR (Reading) main line. For some reason I thought Conrail still delivered the cars to Tuckahoe, but I guess this makes sense what with the passenger operations at Richland.

Although a scheduled passenger train is hardly a surprise, it was nice to catch a northbound NJT Atlantic City Line train up near WINSLOW tower with GP40PH-2B #4207 leading and Comet V #6068 on the back.

Although structurally sound WINSLOW tower had been hit by some taggers. The ivy trim of the bay window was still holding up well. WINSLOW was built in 1934 as part of the PRSL merger to integrate the separate main lines to the shore.

In the late 1990's WINSLOW was one of the first historic towers I had managed to gain interior photos of. In the 25 years since I had been always on the lookout for an opportunity to get an updated digital spread and this day the opportunity presented itself.

Closed in 1983, the tower became a radio base when the ACL was restored in 1989. In my 90's visit the radio equipment was on top of the US&S Model 14 interlocking machine with the model-board, operator's desk and other features still intact. Unfortunately while the tower still had electric power, the radio equipment had been moved out along with most of the 1934 vintage artifacts. Although disappointing, it was nice to have closure.