Thorton (Thornton) Junction: CSX/CN/GTW vs (UP/MoPac+CSX/L&N)/C&EI

(CRJ. Satellite, both routes are still double-tracked)
NorthAmericanInterlockings:  Fuller    Whipp 1977    Geletzke R. May 1989    Geletzke R. Jun 1989    Geletzke R. Feb 1988
Chicago and Northern Indiana Railroad Interlocking Towers (click the marker for more information)

Some references spell it "Thornton."

I learned of Thorton Junction on pp. 57-59 of Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad In Color by Edward M. DeRouin.

Bill LePinske posted
Grand Trunk Extra 392 just knocked down the green at Thornton Jct as it hi balls eastbound out of Elsdon yard to Battle Creek Mi. Somewhere in the late 70’s !
Bill LePinski posted again
Thornton Jct Owened and operated by the Grand Trunk Western RR the crossing for the MoPac, L&N, C&EI railroads …. 1980 South Holland Illinois

Kevin Piper posted
MP 3221 leads a UP coal train on the old C&EI at Thornton Junction in South Holland, IL, on 9-26-87. Thornton is the crossing of CN/GTW's Battle Creek main leading out of Chicago.

CSX plans to rebuild a connection in the southwest quadrant that will allow trains coming north on the joint line to head west on ex-GTW. Doing so allows easier access to Clearing Yard and CSX's Bedford Park intermodal terminal. It also provides an entrance to the west end of CSX's Barr Yard. [CRJ] (Judging from the Satellite image, if this has happened, it has been quite recent.)

Dan Tracy posted
Southbound L&N Family Lines SD40-2 rolls across the GTW at Thorton Jct IL in October of 82.

Bill LePinske posted
My first job at 17 years old senior in HS worked for the Grand Trunk Western RR I was the 3rd trick tower operator at Thornton Jct. This is where the GT and the C&EI MOPAC and L&N Crossed Just south of the Mopac's Yard Center Dolton, Illinois the tower was in South Holland Illinois.
Bill LePinski posted
This is Thornton Jct South Holland Illinois that is owned and operated by the Grand Trunk Western rr. I worked the graveyard shift 3rd trick tower operator 1972-1980 This is where the MoPac C&EI and L&N crossed the Grand Trunk Mainlines. I believe it was demolished in 1999 ? 

Ken Schmidt posted
With train #392 in tow, GTW 5833 highballs Thornton Junction in August 1985.

Ken Schmidt posted
About to hit the diamond at Thornton Junction on the South Bend Sub, GTW 5830 is in charge of a train en route to the BRC on a dismal day in October of 1988.
Brad Ciesco Elsdon Sub
Ken Schmidt In 1988, it was the South Bend sub. I remember well when the Battle Creek dispatcher was giving out orders.
Brad Ciesco When did it change to the Elsdon Sub?
Ken Schmidt I am not rightly sure, but I recall it still called the S Bend Sub in 1990. And that is about the time they moved the dispatchers to Pontiac if I recall. Thomas Bowers would remember better than I.
Chuck Roth I thought it changed to Elsdon at Griffith.
Jeffrey Cwan In 3 short years the Trunk would be absorbed by the CN.

Mark Hinsdale posted

"Thornton Junction IL"

The engineer on Grand Trunk Western's premier merchandise train, eastbound #392, has just grabbed his orders from the delivery stanchion and is about to bang over the ex Chicago & Eastern Illinois main line, at Thornton Jct, within the Chicagoland suburb of South Holland IL. It's September, 1977, and by this time, the former C&EI artery is a jointly owned property of Louisville & Nashville and Missouri Pacific. #392, scheduled out of GTW's Elsdon Yard in the morning, will make a priority run, diagonally across Lower Michigan, and deliver its train to GTW parent Canadian National in Port Huron by midnight. September, 1977 photo by Mark Hinsdale

Mark Hinsdale shared

(new window, this one of a few videos of this junction. At 8:15 there are crane parts. Unfortunately, they are in gondolas instead of flatcars so part of the parts are hidden.)