For the Love of Towers
Photography of Henry Wilhelm
Henry Theodore Wilhelm (1905 – 1986) never worked for a railroad, but had a deep interest in railroad interlockings, such as Signal Station 44 (SoNo Switch Tower Museum), and railroad signaling. He developed an extensive knowledge and understanding of interlocking and signaling principles as he crisscrossed the country visiting towers, beginning with New York Central’s Van Cortland Park Tower in 1919. When he was done, Mr. Wilhelm visited 2600 interlocking towers! He often photographed and made detailed layout drawings of the towers visited.
The SoNo Switch Tower Museum maintains the Henry Wilhelm Negative collection, which contains approximately 4,000 black & white images. The collection was donated by museum member Richard (Dick) Carpenter, who was a close friend of Mr. Wilhelm. Dick met Mr. Wilhelm in 1947, while on a New Haven Railroad steam excursion over the Maybrook line.
Mr. Wilhelm inspired a young Dick Carpenter to start drawing railroad interlocking installations. Both men became well-known for making detailed drawings of complex railroad interlockings. Their drawings have been studied by railroad employees, enthusiasts and students of railroad interlockings and signaling. The Wilhelm and Carpenter collections of interlocking drawings are preserved at the University of Connecticut Archives in Storrs, Connecticut.
Enjoy a small sampling of Mr. Wilhelm's work in this section. Images will be rotated periodically.
Henry Wilhelm catches a Milwaukee Road train passing the station and AD tower in Fulton, IL - 1928
Original New York Central NK Tower and neighborhood just outside the Park Avenue Tunnel leading to Grand Central Terminal in New York City - September 20, 1930.
Newly constructed NK Tower in New York City on September 20, 1930
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The New York Central was known for having third rail electric service around New York City. For 23 years, starting in 1907, third rail and towers were in operation for 44 miles on the West Shore between Syracuse and Utica, NY. This allowed fast interurban service on West Shore tracks. NF, a modest tower, was located in New York Mills. The Utica Division of the Ontario & Western Railway (O&W) crossed there. Five miles from NF was AK Tower in Clark Mills. The O&W crossed and interchanged with the West Shore at Clark Mills. Both photos 1931.
Looking north on the Milwaukee Road in Rondout, IL. Bridge in the distance is the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad (interurban) - 1928. The tower at the right remained in service until 2015.
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An Elgin, Joliet & Eastern freight train is about to cross the Chicago & North Western at the tower in West Chicago, IL - 1928. This tower is still in service.
A steam-powered train operates under the wires at Grove Street Tower in Hoboken, NJ - 1932
Not only did railroads cross one another at grade, but on occasion, they crossed interurban or electric traction lines. Here, a Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee interurban car is about to cross the Chicago & North Western at SU Tower in South Upton, IL – 1928
New York Central Advance 20th Century Limited displays green flags as it rolls by the tower in Whiting, IN - 1928
An Ellgin, Joliet & Eastern freight train approaches JC Tower in Joliet, IL - 1928. Check out that pipeline!
A Pennsylvania Railroad train, bound for Pittsburgh, crosses over at Wood Tower in Hamilton Junction, PA - 1932
CO tower controlled the movement of Pittsburgh & Lake Erie trains on the four track main line in College, PA - 1928
Two locomotives bring a Chicago & North Western train past the tower in Clinton, IA - 1928
It's train time at Central Station in Chicago, IL. Illinois Central trains are being readied for departure - 1928