NorthAmericanInterlockings: 1989 1982
See Wabash Depot for the current status of the Wabash route.
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| Bill Molony posted The Gibson City, Illinois interlocking tower - circa 1930. Photographer unknown. From the Blackhawk collection. Mike Sypult: Looking east along the LE&W, later Nickel Plate, NW? Dennis DeBruler: Mike Sypult No. Here is an explanation based on information provided by Harold J. Krewer in another post. The photographer is standing on the IC looking toward Gilman. The track crossing in the foreground is the ex-NKP/LE&W between Frankfort and Peoria. The track behind the tower is the ex-Wabash. Charlie DeWeese: Do not see the train order signals that were present at later pictures. Earlier train orders were handled at the individual depots? Stephen N. Brannon: Charlie DeWeese I was wondering exactly the same thing. |
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| Richard Koenig posted Richard posted again [The comments have some additional photos.] |
Train is northbound on the ex-Wabash toward Chicago. Ex-NKP from Frankfort to Peoria in foreground. Photographer is standing on the IC looking toward Gilman.
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| Richard commented on his second post |
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| Carl Venzke posted Illinois Central Railroad: Gibson City signal tower |
Note the various angles taken allow you to see a couple of train order semaphores and some "iron men" (train order hoop holders).
Since five of the six "spokes" still exist, it is easy to locate where this crossing was in the town. I put a red rectangle around the tower in the following aerial. (The red dot is an editing mistake that I did not notice until later.)
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| 1940 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
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| Photo from Robert Daly's posting |
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| Photo from Robert Daly's posting Harold J. Krewer NKP order board and hoop stand. They had a hoop stand just like that at BN Target in Bloomington, wonder how prevalent that style was on the NKP? Robert Daly I grew up along the old NKP Buffalo-Cleveland and don't remember seeing order boards like this. |
Raymond Storey posted six photos with the comment: "Gibson City ILL...The IC,Wabash and NKP."
Rick Powell I remember the old NKP line that went east from here through Paxton and on to Indiana. They were down to about 1 train a month before the line was abandoned.
James Maltby Last regular RR job I worked 1969.
Jon Roma I have a bunch of more recent pictures of Gibson City tower, taken near the end in the early Nineties at https://www.flickr.com/.../in/album-72157600994975093/, though I need to redo the scans with a better scanner.
The model board, the levers, and the interlocking machine below the floor from Gibson City were preserved, and were used in the replica tower constructed by volunteers the Monticello Railway Museum several years ago.
I had the privilege of designing the mechanical locking for the track layout at Monticello, and James Maltby (who commented above) has been one of the regular volunteers who operate the tower and demonstrate to museum guests about the importance of towers' role in railroading has been.
As a result, bits and pieces of Gibson City Tower survive today as part of MRM's living railroad.
The model board, the levers, and the interlocking machine below the floor from Gibson City were preserved, and were used in the replica tower constructed by volunteers the Monticello Railway Museum several years ago.
I had the privilege of designing the mechanical locking for the track layout at Monticello, and James Maltby (who commented above) has been one of the regular volunteers who operate the tower and demonstrate to museum guests about the importance of towers' role in railroading has been.
As a result, bits and pieces of Gibson City Tower survive today as part of MRM's living railroad.
Dennis DeBruler I haven't bothered to go to that museum because I'm not that interested in sheet metal. But if one can see an interlocking machine, I need to visit that museum.
Jon Roma Dennis DeBruler, I don't understand the reference to sheet metal.
Dennis DeBruler Jon Roma The standard railfan action of locomotives pulling trains. I don't care for railfan photos where the locomotives fill the frame. But I do enjoy railfan photos if they include some of the railroad infrastructure such as towers or big bridges. But even photos of the interiors of towers don't include the first floor interlocking machine. I still can't imagine how they worked.
Ray Ferguson I remember that tower well. My Dad was a Trainmaster at Gibson City we went there occasionally. I went to school with the opertors Son. We lived in Elliott, Il. 5 miles away. The Nickel Plate RR was right in back of our house. Their freight trains flew through the little town of Elliott population 200 wide open. I knew what time it was when I heard the blow without looking at a watch.
Jon Roma One thing I want to point out to anyone interested in Gibson City is that I have a handful of photos of the tower in a https://www.flickr.com/.../jonroma/albums/72157600994975093. I have more that have never made it through the scanner or onto Flickr.
[Jon Roma also posted photos of the interlocking machine and described how it works.]
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