While I was hoping that the massive COVID related hit to transit would freeze infrastructure "improvements", many transit agencies seem to have kept the faith in Federal funding and use the reduced service plans to accelerate certain infrastructure improvements. The F route to Church Ave was re-signaled in 2013, closing Model 14 equipped towers at 4TH AVE and CHURCH AVE, which I noted at the time. This left KINGS HIGHWAY and CULVER YARD as the last remaining towers on the route, with KINGS HIGHWAY having the distinction as being the last elevated main line tower with a traditional interlocking machine, a 44 lever GRS Model 5 (Note the Flushing Line's 111TH ST master tower is also located in a traditional elevated structure).
Unfortunately due to COVID and obliviousness, I did not get a chance to get out to KINGS HWY before it closed, however well known NYCTA videographer DJ Hammers did a special video on the tower and the re-signaling project, including some interior photos.
For the lay person, unless the tower is demolished it will look pretty much the same along with the interlocking hardware. This is in contrast to the underground towers which are frequently cleaned out and plated over. I'm looking for stuff to do this year and getting out to Kings Highway on the F has moved up on the list.
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