File:Weverton VO Tower.jpg

Summary

This was the Weverton or "VO" signaling tower, which was decommissioned in the 1950s and demolished sometime around 1960. It was also known as a "Block Station Tower," which along with towers in Brunswick (WB) and Point of Rocks (KG), formed a "block" that managed all railroad traffic between those locations. The WB Tower was the center of the operations for this area from Point of Rocks in the east and Weverton in the west.

Old Rt. 340 would be at the upper right of the photo. The Weverton station can be seen in the background along with the water tower. To the left of it is the mainline to Cumberland. To the right is the Washington County Branch to Hagerstown.

The tower was actually located in Knoxville, but was designated "Weverton" by the railroad.

Bill Shewbridge My dad worked at this tower occasionally. He said that in the mid-fifties, a bulldozer working nearby struck a buried box of gold coins. It broke open and scattered the treasure. Dad said that the tower operators were frequently bothered by locals digging in the area after that.

Aaron Lennox I've always found it interesting that Weverton was actually much larger than many think. Or it was at least planned that way. Most seem to think it was only right at the county line and/or mostly in Washington County and that what remained of it was just built over by 340. From what I've been able to garner, Weverton seems to have been at one point basically everything north-west of the intersection in Knoxville, including a good section of S. Mountain Rd (and of course down to the river.)

The tower was definitely in Knoxville though, and on the opposite side of Knoxville to boot (in relation to Weverton.)

Al Moran 340 would be at upper right of photo. The Weverton station can be seen in the background. To the left of it is the mainline to Cumberland. To the right is the Washington County Branch to Hagerstown...

James Eells Rails from Weverton went to Keedysville as close to Boonsboro as it ever got. Then on to Hagerstown. Rails came out in the late 70s. The rails through Boonesboro were the Hagerstown and Frederick Trolley line. Herb Harwood‘s book, Impossible Challenge has a whole chapter on the Weverton Branch.

(Photo from Baltimore & Ohio Railroad History courtesy of Norm Cornelius)