Blue Island, Il

[MP173]

There are two towers at Blue Island, one adjacent to Broadway and one north of the river.

What are the functions of the two towers?  Which railroad controls the towers? While in the area I went into the Iowa Interstate/transload area.  Interesting area.

 

ed

[CShaveRR]

I'm not sure who controls the interlocking (control point), but it's done from the tower across the river Cal-Sag Channel from Broadway.

The tower by the street is exclusively for the gate-tender.  He's a CN employee, I believe.

[rrboomer]

The tower north of the Cal Sag Channel know as Grand Trunk Tower and/or Blue Island Jct is manned by CN operators. Tower was relocated to it's present location in 1963 IIRC correctly and is all push button. The original tower was east of the B&OCT main tracks near Vermont St and was an "Armstrong" plant. The tower relocation and all new railroad bridges were result of the channel being widened so as to be "Double tracked" for benefit of Material Service Corp.

[Saxman]

The tower at Broadway next to the CN (xGTW) in Blue Island is soley for crossing protection. The tower that sits between the IHB, CN  and Cal-Sag Canal is Blue Island Tower which  controls the rail movemnets between CN, IHB, CSX and Iowa Interstate.

Control of Signals and Switches by the Blue Island Operator is now done by computer and clicking a mouse.  The push button system was removed and the system updated around 2001-2002.