16th Street Tower/Chicago

[MP173]

Between appointments I was able to locate the 16th Stree Tower in Chicago.

What is the status of the tower?  It is currently manned (or appears to be).  Are there plans to handle the crossing by remote dispatch?

What freight movements are there on the line other than CN/CN?  Does BNSF run coal traffic to CN at this junction?  Anything else?

Interesting looking at the tower and the Chicago skyline....

Who would have thought that 16th Street Tower would have lasted longer than the Sears Tower?

ed

[CShaveRR]

I believe that the current plans still call for elimination of the St. Charles Air Line, which would also eliminate the reason for the tower's existence. This won't happen, though, until a new connection between CN and NS is built at Grand Crossing for Amtrak's trains that currently use the St. Charles Air Line. CREATE would do this, if properly funded.

I'm sure that BNSF-CN interchange can easily take place at Eola, whenever CN sees fit to make the change.

[poop]

Hello! I photographed NKP 765 passing 16th street tower last September! Now, the guy I was with, Gary Sample, said that this is the last Interlocking Tower in Illinois! Is this true? I can't find any info online about this being the "Last" one! If there are any more in Illinois, where are they? Also, is it true that it was built in 1901? I need help with any info about 16th street tower.

Thanx!

Robert Jackson

[CShaveRR]

[quote user="poop"]

Hello! I photographed NKP 765 passing 16th street tower last September! Now, the guy I was with, Gary Sample, said that this is the last Interlocking Tower in Illinois! Is this true? I can't find any info online about this being the "Last" one! If there are any more in Illinois, where are they? Also, is it true that it was built in 1901? I need help with any info about 16th street tower.

Thanx!

Robert Jackson

 

It would only take one other interlocking tower to make a liar out of your friend...and that would be JB Tower in West Chicago, where the UP (ex CNW) and CN (ex EJ&E) cross.  As far as I know, there are no plans to close it anytime soon.

And I've heard nothing more on plans to modify Grand Crossing, ergo no plans to eliminate the St. Charles Air Line.

[poop]

poop

Hello! I photographed NKP 765 passing 16th street tower last September! Now, the guy I was with, Gary Sample, said that this is the last Interlocking Tower in Illinois! Is this true? I can't find any info online about this being the "Last" one! If there are any more in Illinois, where are they? Also, is it true that it was built in 1901? I need help with any info about 16th street tower. Thanx! Robert Jackson

CShaveRR

It would only take one other interlocking tower to make a liar out of your friend...and that would be JB Tower in West Chicago, where the UP (ex CNW) and CN (ex EJ&E) cross.  As far as I know, there are no plans to close it anytime soon. And I've heard nothing more on plans to modify Grand Crossing, ergo no plans to eliminate the St. Charles Air Line.

Thanx for the info about 16 Street Tower! Is it true that it was built in 1901? I knew about "JB Tower" in West Chicago, but didn't realize it was still open! Now, do you know of any other working towers in Illinois? I have been to Dolton Tower before, but I know that has closed since a guy invited us in there in 2001!!!!

Thanx!

Robert Jackson