Manhattan, IL: Junction Tower: Wabash and Milwaukee

(Satellite)

See also: CM&G Depot and Wabash Coaling Tower

Richard Fiedler posted in Chicagoland Railfan

Richard's comment:

Wabash- Chicago Milwaukee and Gary (Milwaukee Road) depot in Manhattan IL. This picture was taken in 1967 by our friend Rod Irwin and his wife and child are in the picture too. Rod worked 2nd trick as the operator of Chicago Ridge tower. Rod's career spanned the Burlington, Santa Fe, Nickel Plate, Wabash, and the N&W. He was an expert telegrapher too and that is another story...

Hopefully the "posted" link is permanent because there were some interesting comments about working for railroad companies. Too many to summarize here. The "Gary" was the Chicago, Milwaukee & Gary (CM&G).

Richard Fiedler -> RAILROAD HISTORY BUFFS OF ILLINOIS
Update: in a 2016 posting, he pointed out the Atlantic with canted cylinders.

From the aerial photo below and the roof line of the elevator in the two photos, this photo must have been looking north along the Wabash. So this tower photo must have been taken before the locomotive servicing facilities were built. 

Richard Fiedler Comment on Bill's posting

Bill Molony posted
This is an aerial view of Manhattan taken on May of 1966, looking northwest.
The tracks running from top to bottom on the left side of the photograph belonged to the Milwaukee Road.
The tracks running from left to right across the picture belonged to the Norfolk & Western (ex-Wabash).
The Manhattan interlocking tower can be seen where the two railroads crossed each other.
The Wabash was completed through Manhattan in 1880, but the Milwaukee Road's Joliet Branch wasn't completed until 1905, 25 years later, making the Wabash the senior railroad at this location.

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP, camera resolution

The elevator and boxcars in the background are along a CM&G spur. The junction was further south.

Paul Krueger commented on Evie BoB Bruns posting
Union S&S permit/opened 5/1/1906. 31 levers.

An Evie Bob Bruns posting with a discussion of who owned and operated and several pictures of the tower in the comments.

 

Logan Fifer shared a Don Meyer post

Manhattan, IL

CM&G crossing Wabash RR. Original copy dated Feb, 1920. I was the last TLO when closed in 1967 and kept some memorabilia. At the time of closing it was the Milwaukee, Norfolk & Western

 

Dennis DeBruler commented on Logan's share
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Q91IBeZLh916Q5auDaQ9-x25vh0&ll=41.41435837204004%2C-88.002306506475&z=13

Bill Molony posted
The interlocking tower at the Wabash - Milwaukee Road crossing in Manhattan, Illinois - circa 1960.
This photograph was taken looking railroad north on the Wabash. 
The Wabash was constructed through Manhattan in 1980, and the Milwaukee Road's predecessor, the Illinois, Iowa & Minnesota Railway, arrived in 1905, making the Wabash the senior railroad at this junction.
When this tower was constructed, the Wabash was double-tracked through Manhattan.
John LaRochelle The Wabash was constructed through Manhattan in 1880 and was manned by Wabash telegraph operators.

Bill Molony posted again
Another view of the interlocking tower at Manhattan, Illinois.
The photographer is looking railroad north on the Wabash Railroad tracks, with the track running left-to-right in front of the tower belonging to the Milwaukee Road. 
The Wabash was double-tracked at this location when this tower was built, but the second track - located between the existing track and the tower - had been removed by the time this photograph was taken.
The Wabash Railroad's main line through Manhattan to Chicago was completed in 1880, while the Milwaukee Road's branch through Manhattan to Joliet was not completed until 24 years later, in 1904.

Bill Molony shared

This is the interlocking tower in Manhattan, Illinois that controlled the crossing of the Wabash Railroad and the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad.

The photographer is looking railroad north on the Wabash tracks, with the Milwaukee Road tracks crossing on the near side of the tower.

When this tower was constructed around 1905, the Wabash was double-tracked at this location.

Photographer unknown; undated, but circa 1960.

From the Blackhawk collection.

Bill Molony posted

The Wabash-Milwaukee Road interlocking tower at Manhattan, Illinois.

From the Blackhawk collection.

Richard Fiedler

The crossing was near the end of the present day Metra track in Manhattan. If you poke around in the overgrowth you can find the footings for the rods tossed about and some old rods as well.

Bill Molony

Author

This photo was taken looking railroad north on the Wabash, with the Milwaukee Road's tracks crossing on the near side of the tower. The Joliet Arsenal was south of this location.

Ken Morrison

also remember what I recently realized: The MR had a turnout in the SW quadrant of the junction, but it didn't connect to the Wabash-it paralleled the Wabash all the way to the Arsenal. Explains why, off Gougar Rd., SW of town, there are 2 bridges, side-by-side, over Prairie Creek.

Paul Krueger shared
Classic branchline railroading at its finest, the Joliet Local at Manhattan, IL, on 8-28-77
Brian Weber Judging by the tower in the background. Looks like it was SE of town heading toward Peotone.

William Shapotkin posted
Here is a vintage view of Manhattan, IL -- MILW/WAB Xing. View looks S/E on the MILW. 1952. Ritzman photo.
William Shapotkin Yes -- it is interesting that there are (last I knew) three active one-time MILW rail customers on the CM&G receiving rail service today: A scrapyard in Joliet, Aeropres in Manhattan and a lumber yard in Momence.
Dave Ladislas Sr. I've seen very old pictures of the old IC main line in towns like Manteno,Peotone,etc.,hard to believe so many trains stopped in those towns every day.
Dennis DeBruler It is not hard to believe when you consider they were built when the alternative was horse&wagon. In fact, the existence of the railroad made many of those towns. A farmer wanted to be within about 7 miles of a depot and grain elevator. (14 miles round trip is a long day with horses.) The depot was important for getting freight, such as your order from the Sears catalog, as well as for passenger travel, mail, newspapers (no radio, let alone TV and internet), etc.

Bill Molony posted
The interlocking tower at Manhattan, Illinois - 1969.
This tower controlled the crossing of the Milwaukee Road's Joliet branch and the Norfolk & Western's (ex-Wabash) main line between Chicago and Decatur.
This view shows the southwest side of the tower, with the Milwaukee's track in the foreground.