Tower B-17: Metra/Milw vs. CP/Milw in Bensenville, IL

(CRJ, Mark Vogel Photo Album, 3D Satellite)
NorthAmericanInterlockings:  photo   diagram
Chicago and Northern Indiana Railroad Interlocking Towers (click the marker for information)

 The Milwaukee route to the West is in the foreground, and behind the tower is the freight cutoff to Milwaukee's northern routes into Chicago.

Street View, Jul 2022

From Chicago Rail Junction by Bill Gustason

This location is where Milwaukee's branch from Byrn Mawr meets its western route. The western route is now owned by Metra, although the CP runs some freights over it because it owns the route west of Elgin. The branch from the northern CP lines is owned by CP.

Heather Michele Parra posted

CPKC 640 rounding around the bend and meeting the Interlocking Tower at B-17. KCSM 4526 Grey Ghost leads its train.

03/24/2024

Jerry Jackson posted
Coming into Bensenville Yard, passing Tower B-17. 1991.
Jerry Jackson also posted, but with a different date
 A typical Fall workday at Bensenville. 1990.

Steven J. Brown posted
Hooping orders to outbound New Line SOO SD60's from Bensenville at Tower B17 in May 1990.

Steven J. Brown posted
Metra F40C 603 at Tower B-17 in Bensenville, Illinois - September 1988.
William Lloyd Former 43.

Steven J. Brown posted
Metra F59PH 99 (built 1988 as Go Transit 532) on the Milwaukee Road West Line at Tower B17 (still in service!) in Bensenville, Illinois - November 29, 2021.
Steven J. Brown shared

Steven J. Brown posted
A Union Pacific freight passes the former Milwaukee Road, former Soo Line, present Canadian Pacific/Metra Tower B17 over the former Chicago & North Western realigned new New Line Subdivision (which is called something else now but I'm in denial) in Bensenville, Illinois - June 19, 2022.
Jeff Lewis: I think it's called the Renewed Line now.
Juan Antonio Troncoso-Muñoz: It might get realigned once more to open up the “chokepoint” of bensenville yard and to host a new part of highway to connect the interstate 90 with other parts,supossed to conect to the highway to nowhere(elgin-o’hare)
Steven J. Brown  shared

 

Mark Llanuza posted
Its the year 2011 Milwaukee Road tower man Scott Bowden at Bensenville IL tower B-17
Roger Kujawa: Anyone explain what towns are on the boards? Thanks.
Harold J. Krewer: Roger Kujawa, smallest board at far left controls the crossovers at 'Almora,' just east of the Big Timber Road depot. Added when suburban service was extended from downtown Elgin out to Big Timber Road in the 1980s.

Next is the panel that controls what used to be Tower B-35 at the Fox River and Spaulding (EJ&E diamonds and interchange yard). Notice the bridge over the Fox River was still single track on the diagram (it has since been rebuilt with two tracks). Those two towers were remoted at different times...B-35 may have been remoted to Spaulding first before both were remoted to B-17. Spaulding came out of service in the mid-80s and the tower itself was moved to IRM in 1989.

Next is the CTC panel controlling the crossovers at East and West Roselle, the access to industrial leads in Schaumburg and Itasca and the holding signals near Wood Dale. This territory was added in 1955 in anticipation of taking over operation of the UP Streamliners from the C&NW.

Finally, the two green panels at the right are the original US&S panels controlling the plant at B-17 itself and switches into the various yard leads at Bensenville and up to the limits of Tower B-12 in Franklin Park (which is now controlled by Metra from its Control Center downtown).

While Metra owns and maintains all this trackage today, this territory and the Operator are under the supervision of the CPKC Elgin Sub Dispatcher.

Robby Gragg
On 5/6/24 the Empress arrives into Bensenville, IL and passes Tower B17, one of only a few manned operating interlocking towers in the Chicagoland area.

Sam Carlson provided a couple of Jan 1985 photos and a contemporary photo that includes B17.

post

comment

 The tower has changed.

comment

Bryce Bott posted four photos with the comment:

“Traffic Jam At B17” 

While awaiting 6644 to possibly be on 149, and 249 which having a CSX SD70AC with flared radiators leading the way. There would also be a stranded CPKC 546 which is an Ethanol bound for the CSX interchange. The leader for 546 was KCS 4787 but they decided for some reason to pull the 4787 off 546, spin the engine around and have it lead 149 instead. Now he would show itself as he triples his train to 13,000 feet in length. On top of this they had a 249 waiting with there new crew and a 647 which would come first, then the rescue power for 546 which would be a CSX YN2 & a NS D9. Then 149 was ready so they departed with 546s old leader and 6644 (D-Day) in the middle. Finally, 249 followed close behind with their EMDs notched up to finish there long trip to St Paul MN. 

Tower B17, Bensenville IL - 4/19/25

1

2

3

4

1998 Arturo Gross Flickr of an inbound commuter and all of the tower