Location: Altamont, IN
Call Sign: QN
Railroads: New York Central and Nickel Plate Road
Milepost: 170.2 (NYC) 254.8 (NKP)
Operator: Nickel Plate Road
Machine Type: US&S Type F Electric

14 working levers

8 levers for 10 switches and 1 derail

6 levers for 12 signals

9 spare spaces 4-10-12-13-14-15-17-20-21

Open Date: Unknown
Closed Date: 06-01-1980
Demolision Date: 1980s

Description:

Photos:

Looking eastbound at the coaling and interlocking towers at Altamont. The NKP mainline is to the left while the NYC mainline is to the right. This is the eastern end of the TA Double. The NKP became the westbound main and the NYC became the eastbound main. April 1977. (Jim Sinclair Photo)

This view shows the north and west walls of Altamont tower. In a little over three years her US&S interlocking machine will no longer control this once important interlocking. That task will fall upon the N&W dispatcher in Decatur, IL. April 1977. (Jim Sinclair Photo)

Big Four operator Jim Bennet is in control today at Altamont. Notice the clockwork time element relays on the side of the interlocking machine. If the operator needed to take away a signal he would set the signal back to red and then wind up one of these relays. When the relay finished coutning down he could then line another route. This time delay prevented the operator from taking a signal from a train and then lining a signal immediately afterwards for an opposing movement. April 1977. (Jim Sinclair Photo)

Altamont's Union Switch & Signal Type F Electric interlocking machine stands guard. The siwtches and signals at Altamont were electricaly controled instead of via pipeline at other towers such as Lafayette Junction and Sheff. The red caps over switch lever 23 and derail lever 7 indicate that they are currently out of service. The current state of the interlocking is all switches normal and all signals are at stop. April 1977. (Jim Sinclair Photo)

Altamont's model board. Notice that there have been some changes to the interlocking as evidenced by the taped over signals at the east end of the NYC siding. At one time Altamont controlled the switch and signals at the end of the siding. The wooden frame directly above the board contains the manipulation chart for this interlocking. April 1977. (Jim Sinclair Photo)

We are looking west at the east side of Alatmont tower. Date Unkown. (George Elwood Photo)

This is the east side of the coaling tower at Altamont. The tower has been stripped of all valuable parts and has been left to decay. Today it is just a memory. Date Unkown. (George Elwood Photo)

Utilizing Jim Sinclair's photos of the interlocking machine and model board I was able to create Altamont's manipulation chart in Excel as it was hard to see in the original photo. The manipulation chart lists which levers need to be reversed in order to set a particular route through the plant. April 1977.

We're looking west down the NKP mainline at Altamont. The NYC is to the left. Judging by the weeds and growth it appears that the tower is closed however this is not the case. The tower will remain open for another 11 years. 1969. (John Fuller Photo)