Texas Eagle Trip Report

At the end of March I took an Amtrak trip from Washington, DC to Dallas Texas and was able to get survey photos between DC and Cumberland, MD, Elkhart, In and Chicago, IL, Chicago and St Louis, MO and between Texarcana and Dallas, TX. I was also able to make a number of other observations on the state of signaling along the two long distance train routes.

As previously reported, both the old B&O Main Line and ex-Conrail Chicago Line have seen extensive re-signaling and modification. Still, a few B&O CPL dwarfs exist as exist signals off of industrial sidings and a few Conrail era auto signals exist between Elkhart and South Bend, IN. West of Pittsburgh new signals are up at CP-WEST CONWAY and CP-ROCHESTER, although when the re-signaling will hit is anybody's guess. This will complete Rule 562 operation between Cleveland and Harrisburg. CP-WOOD on the Ft Wayne Line did not appear to have any new signals present, but I have since heard it is being relocated off of a curve.

The METRA Heritage Corridor between 21st St and Joliet has been completely scrubbed of anything interesting including the old UD tower in Joliet, although it is on track to be preserved in some way. The Lincoln Corridor has been substantially upgraded even though speeds remain at 80mph and the cab signals have been turned off(!). Although new block signals were going in as early as 2005, the bulk of the recent improvements has been limited double tracking and the installation of signaled sidings with limited speed entry and exit, a sharp improvement from the old system with fewer restricted speed sidings.

As I previously reported LENOX tower has been closed and the last Alton CPLs at Wann were removed. However I did notice a rare North American outside slip switch at Wood River junction that appears to be on track for retention after the current re-signaling effort. Stay tuned for a full port on these and other outside slip switches.

South of St. Louis, the DeSoto sub appeared to have some surviving classic CTC sections with searchlight signals, however it was quite late and my observations were limited. In Texas the route of the Eagle has a mix of re-signaled and un-re-signaled line segments, although this was traffic light and Vader hood territory before it was popular. What few searchlights remain are clearly being targeted for replacement, although many old style Vaders appear to be safe. Nearing Dallas additional examples of the off brand GRS "Style N" signals appeared along with other non-Safetran modular color lights. All along the route were examples of MoPac tri-light dwarfs, which are still favored by UP.