CHICAGO'S INTERLOCKINGS

MILWAUKEE ROAD

Dubuque & Illinois Division/First Subdivision

Now owned by Metra, operated by CP.

Multiple track line.


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TOWER A-5
Tower listed with Metra

CRAGIN JCT.
Mechanical interlocking installed 1893
Closed 1929

Former crossing with Union Pacific former Chicago & North Western Cragin Subdivision, abandoned around 1990's. For many years was controlled remotely from Tower A-5.

GALEWOOD
Interlocking installed 1905

In the early 1900's, this was the west end of four tracks. Galewood was also the junction of the Dunning spur, serving the state psychiatric hospital, now Chicago Read Mental Health Center.

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TOWER B-12 (Franklin Park)
Mechanical interlocking installed 1896
Closed July 19, 1996
Tower relocated November 11, 1997 to park a short distance west, for display

Crossing with CN former Soo Line/Wisconsin Central, and east end of Bensenville Yard. Metra North Central trains switch railroads here, using connecting tracks at northeast quadrant.

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TOWER B-17 (Bensenville)
Mechanical interlocking installed 1906
New tower constructed 1953
STILL IN USE

West end of Bensenville Yard, and junction with line connecting with Union Pacific (former Chicago & North Western) Milwaukee Subdivision at Bryn Mawr. Tower operator also controls CTC between there and Elgin, installed in 1956.

BRYN MAWR (Tower B)
Mechanical interlocking installed 1918
Burned 1928, temporarily replaced with switchtenders
Remote interlocking installed 1932, controlled from Tower B-17

Junction where CP (former Milwaukee Road) freight connection from Tower B-17 and Bensenville Yard joins Union Pacific (former Chicago & North Western) Milwaukee Subdivision, for trackage rights to Shermer. Junction was previously further east, prior to railroad relocation allowing for development of O'Hare Airport.

SPAULDING
Tower listed with Elgin Joliet & Eastern

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TOWER B-35 (Elgin)
Mechanical interlocking installed 1892
Interlocking rebuilt 1938
Closed 1956

Present interlocking controls CP (former Milwaukee Road) single track over Fox River bridge. Bridge was a gauntlet until 1938, when reconfigured as single track with movable switches. Future plans include double tracking the bridge. Paralleling to the southwest is the Union Pacific (former Chicago & North Western) Belvidere Subdivision. Until 1983, a Chicago & North Western branch diverged north, crossing the Milwaukee Road, and eventually reaching Williams Bay WI. That branch was abandoned south of Crystal Lake, with the remainder north of Crystal Lake evolving to the McHenry Subdivision.


EARLY CTC INSTALLATIONS

Bensenville-Elgin
Installed 1956, control machine at Tower B-17