Harrisburg Power Dispatcher's Office to be Preserved!

 Amtrak's Harrisburg terminal complex has not one but three signaling related landmarks of great historic value.  The first is HARRIS tower, closed in 1992 and completely restored by the Harrisburg Chapter NRHS to simulated working condition, it represents the absolute pinnacle of signaling preservation.  Th second is STATE tower, closed by Amtrak in 2016, it remains preserved, but not restored or open to the public and is likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future. Finally there is the Harrisburg Power Dispatcher's office. Constructed in 1937 to manage the PRR's great westward electrification expansion, it remained in operation until 2012. Not only is the preserved hardware remarkable due to its age, but it is also one of the first wide area electric power SCADA systems ever installed

Amtrak's Harrisburg Power Dispatchers Office in 2008

While a Power Dispatching office isn't exactly Railroad Signaling, it is certainly in the same wheelhouse seeing as it was both essential to railroad operations and made use of very similar relay and electro-mechanical age technology.  The same Harrisburg Chapter team that restored HARRIS is now currently working to restore the Power Office after having obtained a 10 year lease from Amtrak.  From what I have been told, the office is pretty much as it was when the door was locked in 2012.  Everything is there, but the equipment was worn out after 80 years of operation and quite a bit of modification.

Amtrak's Harrisburg Power Dispatchers Office in 2008

This is in contrast to recent developments at the Baltimore Power Dispatchers Office that handled NEC electrification between Perryville, MD and Potomac Yard in Alexandria, VA. Located in the offices above Baltimore Penn Station, the office was gutted except for the large display board and other interface equipment. Unfortunately some very long term plans to convert the old PRR office space into a hotel have finally come to fruition and instead of preserving the space as an attraction, all remaining equipment will be sent to likely the B&O Museum where it will sit out of view or as a static display, devoid of context. 

Telecom type SCADA relay bank at Harrisburg PDO

Hopefully the Harrisburg PDO will be restored to the same level as HARRIS tower with simulated events and a fully working display and interface. If anyone thinks they have the skills necessary to help out please contact the Harrisburg Chapter NRHS.