BO Tower Countdown

[C&O6084]

Close thge thread? How 'bouts some final pictures first?

[BerkshireKid]

We want pictures of them tearing it down and then burning it! We. Need. Closure!

[Ypsi]

My final shots from Monday

Sunset on BO Tower by Michigan Central Lines, on Flickr

BO Tower by Michigan Central Lines, on Flickr

My last train: Amtrak 354
Last Call for BO by Michigan Central Lines, on Flickr

My video from Monday is up today, and will be posted when its published. For me, Monday was a relaxing evening, and nice trip to make. However I cannot say I will be making the trip out for "Burning BO"

[NSSD70ACe]

Here are the better of my photos from last night.

The BO Sunset



Blue Water Finale



The End

[MQT1223]

Here are the better of my photos from last night.

The BO Sunset



Blue Water Finale



The End

Did you ever see me and my friend down there? When the Bluewater came through we were at the Diamond where Tower 1 formerly stood.

[Ben Higdon]

Here are a few pics of mine of BO...

GTW train 421, the KSR (Kalamazoo Switch Run) heading up to Checker, 1997ish

It looked pretty dumpy after they boarded up the windows and put half a coat of spray paint on it



Grain train waiting at the Harris crossover for a yard job to clear up, as well as ELLA and an Amtrak. BO is in the distance. 1995ish



YDKZ1 has backed south past BO and heads back to Botsford 1994ish



Amtrak is in the station while the KSR sneaks into Botsford 1996ish



Model board



View from the tower as ELLA pulls around the wye March 95





And my favorite, the operator hands up paperwork to YDKZ1 as it heads north 3-15-95



Good night, sweet prince!

[Ypsi]

How many years were the Windows boarded up at BO? Clearly some fresh boards in 95ish, but for how long had they been on before? I'm sure they were never replaced because "the end is near" had been the case for the last 20+ years of BO.

[Ben Higdon]

How many years were the Windows boarded up at BO? Clearly some fresh boards in 95ish, but for how long had they been on before? I'm sure they were never replaced because "the end is near" had been the case for the last 20+ years of BO.

I believe the windows remained as seen here, except for the middle one on the bottom floor, until 1995. Also got the new metal stairway at that time, that wooden one was pretty slippery in the winter! Think that was also when they removed the ladder up to the roof on the north side of the tower.

This beaut of a photo from 3/12/79 was taken by Chuck Geletzke Jr, shared with his prior permission. GTW bringing frames down from Checker.




I stopped down and paid my respects last weekend, 10/22/16. Not looking bad for her age with the new roof and back in the two-tone paint job.

[Super Chief]

Sounds like Amtrak dispatchers had their hands full this morning. B34 on the east end, 105,303 & 501 on the west end all wanting to get out of Geathart at the same time. What do we do now?

[MQT1223]

Sounds like Kalamazoo and the State of Michigan are actively working to preserve BO but it will obviously have to be moved in order to do so. Been asking around on Bookface.

[Ypsi]

My final video

[Super Chief]

Nice video Ypsi. The operator lowering the shade in the window after the last train made for a perfect 102 year ending of an era.

[Todd Cline]

Today my cousin Bob and I went to BO. Amtrak guys were there to board up the windows. We had a conversation with them and neither them, nor us, could figure out the future of the tower. I would think that if demolition were planned right away, they would not bother boarding the place up. Anyway, we had a look around, it was kind of like going to a funeral home to view the body..... Rather bittersweet. Nice to have one more look, but knowing that our friend was gone...

Todd

[Jochs]

Tower is now boarded up, and the "BO" signs have been removed.

[MQT1223]

Tower is now boarded up, and the "BO" signs have been removed.

Railroad removed the signs, they are not stolen.

[RSM389]

This is the way I remember the tower the best, Probably because it was the 1st way I saw it in 1975, with Operator Willard Pontius on the weekday shift. Bob

[J T]

BO Tower 1975.jpg

This is the way I remember the tower the best, Probably because it was the 1st way I saw it in 1975, with Operator Willard Pontius on the weekday shift. Bob

Great shot, Bob! This is the way I remember those ugly units...

[Ypsi]

JT and his turbo pic posted any time anywhere, even if not relevant to the thread

[Super Chief]

As I recall Operator Pontius had a souped-up GTO he used to drive to Three Rivers when he worked Saturdays there. Freight station on South Main always had that car under a shade tree.

[Todd Cline]

My cousin just posted some slides and videos on you-tube on BO tower. They are old videos and old slides so the resolution isn't all that super. but they capture an era at BO that most of you weren't born yet. Search Bobozo389 on you tube.

Todd