The Reading Company's late LEBANON VALLEY JCT interlocking tower was built in 1951 with CTC and direct wire control over most of the Reading Belt Line and eventually closed as a staffed interlocking station around 1987. It was used as a glorified relay hut for the next 15 or so years until its complete retirement from railroad use. When I was able to profile the tower in late 2020 it had become unsecured at the hands of local vagrants and while this was a boon for documentation, I mentioned at the time that the structure was at grave risk of a downward spiral. A year later the spiral had begun with evidence of both fire and vandalism inside. My prediction was demolition as an attractive nuisance due to the tower's robust brick and concrete construction, but apparently the roof and interior fittings of the operator's floor were made of wood and on Christmas eve 2025 the structure was gutted by fire.
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| Photo courtesy Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Company |
Demolition is likely inevitable, although the timeline is unclear due to the challenging location. (Amtrak's wooden SHORE tower suffered a fire about 5 years ago and still stands as of this post.) Regardless, anything of historic value that was not already removed was likely destroyed in the blaze.
VALLEY JCT joins a growing list of "robust" towers that have been demolished in recent years, many in far better condition. Just another reminder to not wait when it comes to documentary efforts.
