METRA Western Ave (Tower A-2) Position Lights Removed

Seeing as how I reported on the removal of the position lights at Racine (aka CP-MORGAN) in April of 2018, I might be a little late to the party on reporting this, but it seems that METRA was indeed unwilling to support a number of oddball signals, even if it meant modifications to a US&S Model 14 plant that will eventually be replaced by some sort of flyover. 

As you can see in this photo, the position light signals have been replaced by 4-lamp Metra style heads that support the mostly restricted speed crossovers.  The exception is the 68R signal that saw its two headed position light replaced by a two headed color light.  If it is any consolation the CNW signals and pneumatic point machines were left untouched.  These were possibly the last main line PRR position light signals in the Chicago Area.

If you were wondering why there were a bunch of PRR position lights orphaned on Metra, it was because the former Pennsylvania Railroad Panhandle Route to Logansport came in Chicago via the back door, going up the west side then back east before entering Union Station from the north. You can read more about the history of this interlocking in my previous articles.