Rock Island 61st Street Tower

(SignalBox, Satellite)
NorthAmericanInterlockings: no entry
Chicago and Northern Indiana Railroad Interlocking Towers (click the marker for more information)

This tower was on the north side of Englewood Union Station.

Photograph 9/6/58, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour from Signal Box
[In the background is the bridge for a branch of the Green Line. It has been upgraded to a steel girder bridge.]

Photograph 9/6/58, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour from Signal Box

Inside the tower, a mechanical frame (probably manufactured by the Union Switch & Signal Co.) works the points. This is, intriguingly, surmounted by an inverted power frame by GRS, which controls the signals.

The track layout diagram is mounted on the end wall.

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

The crossing at 60th Street has been removed. But the crossing at 59th Street shows that there used to be six tracks ans the RI and NYC routes approached Englewood Union Station.

A photo of a NYC train approaching Englewood with this tower in the background. (source)
Jon Roma I have a diagram of the 61st St. interlocking plant (controlled by the tower in the background), and will have to dig it out and scan it.

There were six interlocking towers between La Salle Street and the Pennsy crossing at Englewood, and on the joint trackage, ownership alternated between NYC and the Rock Island.

Something else we see in addition to the rather shabby, abbreviated consist is the lack of attention to weed control both on the tracks and the platform itself. A few years prior, this would not have been acceptable – though sadly, things would get even worse in coming years.

Continuing my observations, I would NOT have wanted to have to climb that signal mast to replace lamps!