New New Searchlights at Chicago Union

Amtrak's Chicago Union Station has been a haven for oddball signaling.  It's new stuff, from about 2005, consists of tri-color LED searchlights (a rarity in North America).  It's "old" stuff dates from the late 80's and consists of  US&S style TR tri-lights,  B&O CPL dwarfs and a few scattered GRS SA searchlights.  While many of the CPLs have since been replaced, the other oddball signals have hung on, that is until recently when I noticed that Amtrak appears to be standardizing on the LED searchlights in a slow, but now more steady re-signaling operation.

To begin with the combination large target US&S NR's and LED searchlights on the bracket at 21ST ST have been replaced by small target LED searchlights.

Before

After

 

Next, the 3N and 4N TR trilight signals on the northbound signal bridge for CP-ROOSEVELT have also been given the boot for small target LED's (previously many of these signals were modified with a small target LED lower head).

After

Lastly the two remaining large target searchlight signals mounted on the B&OCT viaduct as CP-LUMBER  4S and 5S have also been replaced by small target LEDs.

Before

 

After

Anyway, just a heads up for anyone passing through Chicago Union Station.  Make sure you get your photos in because there are some a-dooings a-transpiring.