LwS S1, E9: A Visit to Tower 49-A in 1951, Part 1
This episode features another visit to New York Central's Tower 49-A on a warm evening in October of 1951. The neighborhood was alive with activity and John Prophet was able to capture every bit of it.
Also featured in this episode are the only two recordings John made of the Lehigh Valley; two Alco diesels crossing Dingens Street in Buffalo, NY.
Living With Steam Episode 9 features two recordings of Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDC)... also known as "Beeliners." Below is a photograph of RDC M-480, which John captured passing Tower 49-A.
(Richard Ganger photograph from an NRHS Calendar)
This Budd RDC "Beeliner" is waiting outside of the Suspension Bridge Station in Niagara Falls, NY. Soon it will make it's way to Buffalo and Central Terminal.
(Peter Jehrio Collection from the book Niagara by Rail I)
Budd RDCs were in use by most major railroad companies from the early 1950s up until 1962. The were extremely efficient, comfortable, and fast. Controls for the RDC were located at both ends of the car so it wasn't necessary to turn them on a wye for a return trip.
This photograph shows the Lehigh Valley Black Diamond pulled by Alco diesel #609 leaving the LV's white-marble passenger station on Main Street in Buffalo, NY. Soon after its departure, this train will cross Dingens Street and pass by John Prophet where he was waiting with his wire recorder. This pictures was taken in 1952 and the ornate station will soon be closed in favor of a more modern station on Dingens Street. In the upper-right corner of the image, the New York Central's Exchange Street Station is under construction.
By 1960, the Lehigh Valley station in downtown Buffalo will be demolished, and its right-of-way will be taken over by the New York State Thruway Authority for construction of the I-190.
(Strong Family Collection photo from the book Niagara by Rail II by Peter Jehrio)
More information about the Lehigh Valley’s Dingens Street Station can be found by visiting “Forgotten Buffalo: Lehigh Valley Station - Lost 2004”
Here is a map showing the area in Buffalo where Tower 49-A was located and where the Buffalo Division trackage of the PRR ran from the New York Central mainline.
On the evening of October 24, 1951, John Prophet was visiting one of his best friends, Sam Herrington, as he worked his evening shit as a tower operator at 49-A. The train activity was constant and John made every attempt to capture as much as he could with his wire recorder. John knew that the Pennsylvania Railroad intended on removing steam engines from all of their trains; being replaced with diesels. 1951 was the swan song. 1952 was the last year of PRR steam.
John pulled out all the stops in 1952... doing everything possible to capture as much Pennsylvania steam on film and wire. The photo below shows PRR M-1 #6941 as it pulls train 574, the night train to Washington and Philadelphia. The train had previously backed out of Central Terminal and was switched onto their own tracks in front of Tower 49-A. It’s June 22, 1952 and John was standing outside 49-A and took this picture of the train as it’s about to head onto the Pennsy’s Buffalo Division trackage.
From a “directional” standpoint based on the photo, Central Terminal would be to the left, and Downtown Buffalo would be to the right.
Many of the trains John recorded from Tower 49-A were Pennsylvania passenger trains that were either arriving or departing from Central Terminal. John photographed the PRR train below, number 570, as it just started backing out of BCT and down the NYC tracks heading west. The train is being led (or... pushed in this instance) by K-4s engine #5435. It’s passing Tower 49 and one of the water plugs on the side of the tracks. The main water tower can be seen peaking over the top of the second car after the engine. The train will continue to back down the NYC tracks until it comes to Tower 49-A. From there, it will be switched onto the PRR’s Buffalo Division tracks and proceed east (south-east) to Pittsburgh. The picture was taking April 6, 1951.
Many of the trains that passed Tower 49-A were those of the TH&B; which ran daily trains from many points in Southern Ontario to Buffalo and back. TH&B trains stopped in Black Rock, Exchange Street, and eventually, Central Terminal. John Prophet photographed TH&B train number 377 on August 8, 1953 as it was pulled by engine number 15 out of BCT heading west. Like the photograph I posted earlier, the train is passing Tower 49 with the water tower sitting on the side in the background.
END
