Earlville, IL: Historical Junction Tower

(Satellite)

Dustin Holschuh posted in Facebook's
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Fans

Jeff Mathre posted with the information: Laverne Hudson collection, he worked during the 50-60's.

Thomas Whitt shared

Dennis DeBruler: The comments on the post indicate this is Earlville, and Jeff says the photo is by his uncle, Laverne Hudson.

A comment in Facebook indicated the tower was gone by 1963. Note the pipe chase leaving the base of the building. These pipes move the switch points and the semaphores as the singleman moves levers in the tower. The comments also indicated that the CB&Q branch that went to Rock Falls used the C&NW tracks north of town for about a mile. This topo map shows why the CB&Q used the C&NW. The CB&Q used to have a north/south route that passed earlville on the east side. A 1951 topo map shows that the CB&Q had already abandoned the route on the east side and used the C&NW to get to its northern branch.

1971 Earlville Quad @ 24,000

I added a red line next to the landscars that show were the route used to be on the east side.

Satellite

Marty Bernard posted
3. Rick took this from a CB&Q 4960 fan trip. We are looking at Earlville, IL tower at the crossing the CNW in December 1960. Rick Burn photo
Marty Bernard shared
Dennis DeBruler: I always appreciate a historical tower photo that captures some of the signaling pipelines.

 

Jeff Mathre posted with the comment: "Laverne Hudson collection, he worked during the 50-60's."

Uncle Laverne on the job

Andy Zukowski posted
Chicago and NorthWestern Watchman tower, Looking North, Earlville, Illinois 8/16/1949
Thomas Whitt shared

Jeff Mathre commented on Andy's post
My Uncle worked this tower back in the day, his picture at work.

Jeff Mathre commented on Andy's post
Uncle Laverne Hudson working the tower.

Sam Carlson posted
Several miles north of Dimmick is Earlville, where the C*NW line we followed thru Dimmick crosses the BNSF (ex- CB&Q. A few hours after we photographed the 4322, we were in Earlville where we found the C&NW Troy Grove job Heading north after working the sand mine. This is the main reason the line exists.

Sam Carlson posted
NEVER forget to photograph the caboose! This is nprthward thru Ear;rville, IL in June 1974.
Sam Carlson: This really is Earlville. Weedsville is a different place!
Dennis DeBruler shared