I just got word that METRA's famed 16TH ST Interlocking tower at the triple crossing of the Alton (CNIC), Saint Charles Air Line and the Rock Island, is slated in close in early April. Built in 1901, the tower and its original Taylor Model 2 pistol grip type interlocking machine have been in continuous service since 1901 or 124 years! Unlike some other towers where the closure comes out of left field, this one has been telegraphed for some time. 16TH ST (and presumably its interlocking hardware) has been falling into increasing disrepair and I am honestly shocked it did not manage to catch fire or fall down on its own.
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| 16TH ST in 2017, it looks worse now. |
Cost cutting on the part of Canadian National, starting in 2019, have reduced the 12 diamond plant to just 4, as what had been a Y split of two double track main lines crossing another double track main line, was reduced to two single track lines crossing a double track line. It was clear for some time that once all the work was finished to rebuild the complex crossing to some sort of new standard, the tower would be closed.
Given the wooden tower's condition, its also pretty clear that the tower is beyond saving, even in situ, but I'd expect parts of the interlocking machine and model board to make their way into preservation similar to what we saw with CALUMET about a decade ago. Anyone looking to grab some photos during the final days in service can snag a view from the corner of 16th St and Clark.
In other bad news, the late model Chicago Northwestern CY tower has also been closed by Union Pacific as a downstream outcome of UP looking to transfer METRA commuter operations to METRA itself. The operator at CY had control of the local interlocking and much of the METRA UP-Northwest line, where Metra was the primary source of traffic. This was likely a way to better allocate the costs of dispatching the line. Run from a video display interface for years, control might end up in the METRA operation's center with staffing of the still open LAKE ST tower, also taken over by METRA.
Unlike 16TH ST, CY is of far more sturdy construction and will likely serve as an maintenance base for decades to come like its sibling KEDZIE tower on the UP-WEST line. With these two closures the Chicago area will be reduced to four traditional interlocking towers on main line railroads, LAKE ST (CNW), TOWER A-2 (Western Ave), TOWER B-17 and JB. Three of these towers are on the METRA UP/CNW-West Line between the CNW Terminal and West Chicago with the fourth being on the Milwaukee West Line.
Assuming Metra and Union Pacific manage to agree to terms – they are still wrangling about the transition – the agency will take over the train and engine employees on commuter trains, and will take over maintenance and staffing of coach yards and similar facilities exclusively devoted to commuter service.
ReplyDeleteMetra is *not* taking over control of Lake St. Tower or any of the interlocking plants or CTC in suburban territory at this time.
Incidentally, the closing of Chicago's 16th St. Tower has been rescheduled for the second week of April.
Those interested in a glance at 16th St. Tower when it was new will be interested in an article from Railroad Gazette dated July 12, 1901, which can be found on my website www.jonroma.net. The direct link to this article is https://tinyurl.com/yzsd3y6h.
Thanks for the info.
DeleteWith the growing acrimony between METRA and UP I figured that transferring the jobs at Lake St would be in the cards, sort of like Western Ave.
Oddly, METRA was paying for the operator at Rondout, but CP still chose to remote the tower. I know a CP dspr and he was puzzled by the move.