Winona, MN: Tower CK: Milwaukee vs. C&NW

(Satellite, the northern track was C&NW and the southern was Milwaukee and they used to cross just west of the road so that the C&NW proceeded west south of the Milwaukee. The photos show the tower as just east of the road.)

Ted Hazelton posted two photos with the comment: "Chicago & North Western Railway's Tower CK stands guard over the Milwaukee Road crossing in Winona, Minnesota. Tower CK was the last operational interlocking tower in Minnesota. It was decommissioned and razed in 1989. 😥 Unknown photographers."

Ted Hazelton shared

Ted Hazelton shared

Ted Hazelton shared

Dennis DeBruler: A USGS map confirms that CP now owns the C&NW tracks that went along the river. I spotted four rail to barge operations, one flour mill and one malting plant served by those tracks.

Ted Hazelton shared

Stuart Lipskind: Will we in US ever have masonry ties vs wood? Are they better/worse?

Ted Hazelton: Stuart Lipskind BNSF and UP utilize concrete ties in certain parts of the country. Not practical in the north or midwest due to the ground freezing in the winter. They crack and break apart due to the frost.

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Jim Brown: Who's the girl hooping orders?

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Scott Reichel posted
Just scanned this image from a Kodachrome slide the other day of the CNW railroad’s CK tower in Winona. Slide is dated June 4th, 1975. I read that the tower stood until 1989 or so when it was taken out of service and torn down.
Ted Hazelton shared
Ted Hazelton shared

The cars on the right side of the photos confirm that Scott and Mark have different photos.

Mark Llanuza posted
Its June 1975 were at Winona Min Tower CK protects the Milwaukee Road St Paul line and CNW Alco line to Huron SD

I'm amazed that C&NW had two bridges across the Mississippi River at this town.

1985 Winona Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

Sam Carlson posted
Westward CNW 402 crosses the MILW at Tower CK in August 1973
Sam Carlson posted
The Green Bay & Western wasn't around, and besides, Winona was at the east end of C&NW's famed "Alco Line" So we found a westbound and gave chase!
Sam Carlson posted
Action at Tower CK in August 1973. Neal  said, "Let's chase it!"

Comments on Sam's third post
[Another comment confirmed that the RS3 and Centuries are Alco locomotives.]

Sam Carlson posted
We left La Crosse and went north toward Winona, MN. On the way we caught a MILW freight with 5 of what the MILW called GP20s on the point. Then we got Amtrak whipping past Tower CK. being pulled by E units.