CHICAGO'S INTERLOCKINGS

ILLINOIS CENTRAL

Chicago Terminal Division

Multiple track line. Electric commuter operation now owned by Metra. Diesel through operation now owned by CN. Coinciding with the 1926 electrification were additional improvements, including new interlockings and track elevation. During the early 2000's, all interlocking control was transferred to the dispatchers.


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RANDOLPH STREET
Electric interlocking installed 1931
Electric interlocking installed 1986

This "tower", controlling the movements serving the station, really was an office off station track 2.

11TH PLACE
Remote interlocking installed 2018, replacing a switchtender

Switches north of Museum Campus 11th Street station, formerly the Roosevelt Road station.

WELDON
Mechanical interlocking installed 1893
Electric interlocking installed 1943

Tower controlled movements at Central Station, which closed March 6, 1972.

SOUTH WYE JCT.
Remote interlocking installed 1968, controlled from 67th Street

Prior to 1968, the Illinois Central line west only connected towards the north, serving Central Station and the downtown freight yard. This new connection enables the west line to connect with points south, and was originally part of a CTC installation controlled from 67th Street. Interlocking was located near 18th St., where the new connection joined the route south from Central Station.

43RD STREET
Mechanical interlocking installed 1893
Interlocking rebuilt 1908

Connection with Chicago Junction Railway, formerly serving the Union Stockyards. Connection became elevated around 1920's, eliminating need for the interlocking.

51ST STREET
Electric interlocking installed 1926
Closed 1963, remotely controlled from 67th Street

In the past on the electric commuter line, "Hyde Park Local" trains made stops every four blocks north of here. Six tracks existed north of here, and this tower controlled the transition to four tracks south of here. Now the line is four tracks both north and south of here. Some crossovers were retained.

67TH STREET
Mechanical interlocking installed 1893
Electric interlocking installed 1926
Closed May 18, 2009

Junction with South Chicago Branch.

BURNSIDE
Mechanical interlocking installed 1896
Interlocking rebuilt 1910

Crossing, prior to elevation of Rock Island, Chicago & Western Indiana, and Belt Railway of Chicago over Illinois Central main line in 1925. The three elevated railroads paralleled each other. After the grade separation, a portion of the interlocking remained in use for access to the Illinois Central Railroad shops at Burnside.

KENSINGTON
Mechanical interlocking installed 1892
Electric interlocking installed 1909
Electric interlocking installed 1918
New tower constructed 1926
Closed September 8, 2007

Junction of Illinois Central main line with Blue Island Branch and South Shore Line. South Shore Line crosses over what is now CN trackage, which handles primarily freight trains and Amtrak trains. Interlocking originally centered at "Blue Island Jct.", which was also a crossing with Chicago & Western Indiana Dolton Branch, until that line was elevated in 1920's.

RIVERDALE
Mechanical interlocking installed 1894
Interlocking rebuilt 1913
Closed 1986

Former crossing of Illinois Central main line with Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal (now CSX) and Pennsylvania Railroad Panhandle line, abandoned 1986. Illinois Central line was elevated in 1925, with the two other lines crossing immediately underneath the Illinois Central overpass. But Illinois Central continued to control tower and interlocking.

HARVEY
Tower listed with Grand Trunk Western

HOMEWOOD
Electric interlocking installed 1924
Closed 1964, replaced with CTC installation in Champaign

South end of Markham Yard. The two west tracks are now Metra Electric, while the other tracks are now CN. All trackage previously was Illinois Central. All tracks previously were connected with crossovers, which at the time enabled commuter cars to access the Woodcrest shops, next to the yard off Ashland Avenue. Metra since constructed a new shops south of Kensington.

MATTESON
Tower listed with New York Central

MATTESON
Tower listed with Elgin Joliet & Eastern

RICHTON
Electric interlocking installed 1924
Closed 1965

Former interchange with Elgin Joliet & Eastern.