NorthAmericanInterlockings: photo
Chicago and Northern Indiana Railroad Interlocking Towers
d.w.davidson Flickr photo Mark: "The tower was razed on 7/12/97."
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| One of several image posted by Kevin Piper Heading east from Rondout we come to "Leithton." Canadian National's ex-Wisconsin Central (old SOO) main line crosses the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern here. With Canadian National's purchase of EJ&E in January 2009, Leithton (pronounced "leethton") is now an "all-CN' location. The connection in the northwest quadrant allows CN trains from the north to access "The J" here. Before acquiring The J, use of this connection was relatively quiet. However, with the acquisition, this connection takes on a much greater importance. Nearly all of the 20-25 CN trains per day coming south from Wisconsin now transfer to EJ&E and continue east to Joliet. As part of the expansion, the connection has been double tracked and the curve broadened to enable trains to negotiate the tracks at faster speeds. Rumors are circulating that CN wishes to sell the ex-WC from Leithton to Chicago. The once quiet CN/WC/SOO railroad line was double tracked through Vernon Hills in 2005 to enable more frequent operation of "Metra's North Central" commuter trains (and now increased CN traffic.) The Metra trains run between Union Station in downtown Chicago and Antioch, near the Wisconsin border. |
Paul Enenbach 1980 Flickr photo 1980 would be back before CP/SOO bought the Chicago-area Milwaukee Road assets and sold this line to CN so the locomotives are still painted for SOO.
Backlitty DeHighsun: "The J probably gets five times more traffic than what goes to Schiller."
Gary Crigler posted a question as to how many trains run through Round Lake Beach in a day.
Gary Sprandel Plenty of CN action. If you were south of Leighton jct in Mundelin you'd be in poor shape.
Rob C Dargan It's a superhighway. Amazing how many trains run on one track in a day.
Jeff Berman There will eventually be double tracked south to Grayslake.
Gary Crigler I noticed the station was where the track splits to double hopefully that means trains holding at the station.
Kevin Hennessy South bounds typically hold at Cedar Ave in Lake Villa or Monaville Rd so as not to block crossings.
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| 1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
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| Sam Carlson posted On January 28, 1996, WC 6590 heads south through Leithton, IL past the still standing but boarded up tower. Mike Polsgrove Boy has that changed eh? Sam Carlson Well, I think the concrete plant is still there, though it's changed names a few times. Mike Polsgrove Yes, the concrete plant is still there |
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| Rob Conway posted
EJ&E train #10 makes a rare daylight appearance at Leithton in 1989.
I was very impressed by the mechanical forces at the J. They kept the fleet in excellent shape and looking good. It was rare to see a scuzzy EJ&E unit.
Rob Conway This is Leithton tower where the Soo Line crossed the J near the town of Mundelein, IL. Rob Conway posted |
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| Dave Panek posted On a cold November day in 2003. 667-660 is just about to cross the diamonds at Leithton. |
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| 2 Mark Llanuza posted again Its the year 1997 I'm at Leithton tower with EJ&E crossing the WC Mark Egebrecht Tower was closed as early as 1987. Was razed on July 12, 1997. Charles Heraver Mark Egebrecht I think it was actually 1996 right before the North Central Service began in Aug 1996. I remember the tower being closed as early as 1983 Jon T. Hochstetter Correct me if I’m wrong, but the 303 is compass south and crossing the EJ&E. Leithton Tower was on the southeast side of the diamond. I suspect they were switching out a long cut on the interchange yard or possibly doing a Y move. Jon Roma We just had this discussion a week or two ago. Leithton Tower closed as an interlocking station in the late Sixties when Soo pushed CTC signaling through the area. As an EJ&E agency and train order office, the date stated by Mark Egebrecht is likely accurate. Old "J" operating timetables might help narrow down the dates within a year or two. 1987 is around the time that many railroads switched from train orders to track warrants, so I consider that date to be very plausible. Still better to pinpoint the exact date would be a copy of a bulletin taking the agency and train order office out of service, but there are not many people who save that sort of material, sad to say. I have a fair bit of EJ&E bulletins from two decades later, but that doesn't help in the case of Leithton! Erik Coleman The tower was in the southwest quadrant of the diamond so the switcher is on the J proper, heading compass westbound (timetable eastbound) with hoppers (probably plastic pellets) for either Medline or for the Exxon Plastics plant in Lake Zurich. Mark Llanuza Jon T.Jon T. Hochstetter I'm sorry i can't really remember what they were doing .He was going towards Barrington when i shot the photo. Trent Blasco forgot what it looked like with single track main. [So Mark and Erik disagree concerning the direction of the train.] |
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| Eric Berg posted EJ&E Leithton tower and depot in the 1950's. Photographer unknown. (EJ&E agent, I believe was a Soo Line tower, now CN) Ken Jamin I never knew there was a Depot at Leithton. Eric Berg That might be a Soo Line depot, I don't know which way this is facing. Dennis DeBruler Paul's photo shows that the tower was in the southwest quadrant. So this building is along the SOO tracks. https://www.flickr.com/photos/enenquack/16438874551/ Dennis DeBruler This photo confirms it was in the southwest quadrant. https://www.flickr.com/.../dwd.../4131761827/in/photostream/ |
As a little kid, 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade, until 8th, I spent hours a day, often nights in that tower. Big Fred Wagner was the section foreman ramrodding the Mexican (WWII) 'Gandys, as the 'gangs sang out an in rhythm, while they 'Danced' the heavy rails into position, using long bars and tongs.
ReplyDeleteBig Fred and Ruby's son, 'Freddy' [rip] was my BF..F. ;]
Leighton Tower Switch-man taught us Morse code, and the tall manual squeeze 'levers, that swung the distant and heavy, siding junctions into position, as 'orders came over the telegraph in Morse Code.
Slow times, he taught us .22 flying target shooting. ;)
Passing EJ&E Consists engineers extended arms, hooked the long 'Y string canvas bags containing deciphered 'orders, as they rushed past the tower.
Northwestern/Milwaukee Road? passenger out of Chicago was exciting as it flew across the 'diamond rail junction.