PRR Position Signal Lights

[CMStPnP]

Hey do they still have the ex-Pennsylvannia Position Signal Lights on the joint PRR / Milwaukee Road track, North of Union Station in Chicago?

Anyone know?

[CShaveRR]

I'm almost positive that at least one of the bridges is still there, and I haven't seen anything about them being replaced.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Can they be seen in an oblique aerial view, such as Bing's "Bird's-Eye" view ?

- Paul North. 

[CShaveRR]

Yes!  Go to the intersection of Racine Avenue and Kinzie Street in Chicago, then head south along Racine until you get to the grade crossing and look east.  

The picture is from about a year ago.

[CMStPnP]

OK thanks for the info, I never thought of using a Map street level view.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

CShaveRR

Yes!  Go to the intersection of Racine Avenue and Kinzie Street in Chicago, then head south along Racine until you get to the grade crossing and look east.  

The picture is from about a year ago.

The N. Racine Ave. grade crossing is at: N 41 53.306' W 87 39.413'

Signal bridge itself is at: N 41 53.306' W 87 39.363' 

The signal bridge spans all 3 main tracks - with 1 signal head for each - plus a turnout (switch) on the right where 2 sidings are merging into 1 - but no signal head for either of them, though. 

The signal heads all appear to be facing west for eastward traffic.  The signal bridge is only about 200 ft. east of the N. Racine Ave. grade crossing, and there appears to a large vacant lot on the left (northern) side, so decent photos of it might not be too hard to get. 

Thanks, Carl ! 

Looks like there might also be some on the western side of the isolated bridge at: N 41 53.315' W 87 40.212' (between N. Wood St. and N. Paulina St.).  You have to see this one to believe it !  What was the former railroad or trolley line that crossed here, and what is the brief history of this crossing ? 

 - Paul North.     

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The bridge formerly carried the Metropolitan West Side Rapid Transit (later CRT/CTA) Logan Square Line over the MILW and C&NW.  The part of the line between Lake Street and Evergreen (near Division) became a nonrevenue connecting track in 1951 when the West-Northwest (now Blue) Line was completed through the Dearborn Subway and Congress Expressway median.  That line was removed in 1964.  The bridge was left in place since the railroads underneath it had hung signals on it.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Thanks for that info !  I thought it might have been a trolley or rapid transit line of some sort.  Only in the railroad business would a big bridge still be used 51 years later just to hold up a few 'lightweight' signals . . .

- Paul North.