Penn Central in Columbus, Ohio (1970s)

Tip jar: https://ko-fi.com/railroadmediaarchive

Silent Super 8mm movies of Penn Central around Columbus, Ohio in the 1970s before Conrail. The cab ride scenes are on the Columbus Terminal Helper where the photographer was the fireman.

Most of the scenes are around the Union Station complex, but there are some shots at then-new Buckeye Yard, Olentangy Tower, Grandview and CP-Russ. By the time these scenes were taken Union Station only hosted a pair of Amtrak trains (National Limited), and also served as division headquarters for Penn Central.

The method of operation around Union Station was straight out of the dark ages: It was all hand throw puzzle switches that doubled as moveable point diamonds operated by switch tenders under the direction of train directors at High St. and US Towers.

A lot of good historical information on Columbus can be found here. http://www.columbusrailroads.com/new/...

Audio recorded inside High St. and Mounds Towers:
   • (Columbus) High St. Tower Audio 2-25-1972  
   • Audio Inside Mounds and High St. towers 1972