NYCTA Northern Blvd Tower Closed

I have some to realize that every time I see something that appears to be escaping the threat of upgrade, it is actually on tap for complete removal.  This was the case with CP-TITUS and more recently it was the case with Northern Boulevard interlocking on the IND Queens Boulevard Line.

Northern Boulevard is on the local loop of the Queens Boulevard line that takes a longer path than the center express tracks.  It was one of the smallest tower controlled interlockings left on the NYCTA with a single crossover and 5 signals controlled from a 7 lever GRS Model 5 interlocking machine from 1933.  Some say it was intended as a short turn terminal for one of the old IND local services.

When I last visited this site a year or so ago I did not see any of the replacement signals I had spotted at larger interlockings like Union Turnpike and Continental Ave.  At first I thought the local loop was going to escape the CBTC re-signaling project, but I just caught word that the simple interlocking had been completely ripped out.

Noted NYCTA Videographer DJ Hammers actually compiled a short video detailing the changes that took place over a week or so.



With the 6th Ave line following the Queens Boulevard Line in being re-signaled, the NYC Subway is getting alarmingly short of electro-mechanical interlocking machines, so get out and try to catch them while you can.