Towns and Nature: Toledo, OH: Swan Creek Tower: NS+Amtrak/NYC/LS&MS vs. Aban/NYC/LS&MS vs. NS/NYC/LS&MS

Mark Hinsdale posted

"Late, But Moving"

In February, 1977, Amtrak westbound Train #49, the "Lake Shore Limited" has battled heavy Lake Effect snow all the way west from Rochester NY as it rolls through Swan Creek Interlocking, a mile or so west of Toledo's Central Union Station.  Running a little over four hours late, the steam visible back in the consist would seem to indicate that at least some portion of the train is still warm on this raw Ohio day.  February, 1977 photo by Mark Hinsdale

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Dennis DeBruler: I particularly enjoy photos of interlocking towers that catch some of the signaling pipelines.

NYC branched off in three different directions west of this tower.

1952 Toledo Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

Mark Hinsdale posted
While most Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) freight trains to and from Michigan utilized the Toledo Terminal Railroad (TT) around the east side of Toledo, C&O's passenger trains reached Toledo's Central Union Terminal by way of the former Penn Central (New York Central) east-west main line, by this time owned by Conrail (CR). Those trackage rights over CR from Alexis to Oakdale were also occasionally used by through C&O freight traffic, providing a second route across the city, through Alexis, Swan Creek , the Maumee River Swing Bridge, and Oakdale. In this March, 1979 view, a southbound C&O merchandise train from Michigan curves off the Conrail (CR) line from Detroit to join the CR Buffalo to Chicago main line at Swan Creek Tower on Toledo's near west side. The train will continue east past Central Union Terminal and across the Maumee River to Oakdale, in Toledo's southeast, where C&O's own trackage will be accessed and followed to Walbridge, the major C&O classification yard in Toledo. It was one of the only times I photographed a C&O train using this route. March, 1979 photo by Mark Hinsdale
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Comments on Mark's post

Lee Soule posted three photos with the comment: "Swan Creek Tower through the years."

Dennis DeBruler commented on Lee's post

I found it in a 1983 aerial photo, but not in a 1985 aerial.

41°38'17.6"N 83°33'49.3"W

Mark Hinsdale posted
"Ice Cold Coke"
On a cold and snowy, February day, 44 years ago, a westbound Conrail coke train is crossing over from Number 2 Track to Number 1 Track at Swan Creek Interlocking, in Toledo, Ohio. Swan Creek was the junction of the ex New York Central main line from Toledo to Detroit, with the primary Buffalo to Chicago route. The junction serves successor Norfolk Southern in the same fashion, today. February, 1979 photo by Mark Hinsdale
Craig Harris: I think I was working at Milwaukee Jct in Detroit when they took this tower out of service. I think control went to Stanley tower then.
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Michael Shirey posted
B&O 4437 and other C&O units are seen on the Conrail at Swan Creek tower in Toledo, Ohio on November 18, 1981. (Jack G. Tyson photo)
Tim Shanahan shared

Mark Hinsdale posted

Sunday Night @ the Oldies

"Coal For Monroe"

45 years ago, in May, 1979, a trio of Detroit Edison locomotives bring a loaded coal train west on Conrail's Buffalo-Chicago main line through the junction with the Detroit-Toledo line at Swan Creek, on Toledo's near west side. The interlocking took its name from the creek that passes under the Conrail main line in the immediate vicinity of the tower. Swan Creek controlled the switches and signals associated with the junction, as well as the east entrance to Conrail's Air Line Yard. Here, the coal train is taking the path north toward Detroit, where it will travel as far as Monroe, Michigan, the location of a large Detroit Edison power generating station, to be unloaded. These massive trains carried 100-120 tons of coal per car, and typically weighed in excess of 20,000 tons, by far the heaviest trains to run over the route from source mines in PA and WV, to Monroe. May, 1979 photo by Mark Hinsdale

Mark DuVall: Great photo once again Mark! If he isn't doing over 7 MPH right there, he'll stall climbing up the hill here. Crazy to think that. I, in fact, grabbed a coal train at Vickers and almost stalled coming up this hill. Of course, back before the NS decided to make both mains bi-directional, we had to travel wrong main on a Form D and be prepared to stop at the next signal. To say the least, I think we hit 2 mph at Nebraska, but were able to keep it moving. Fun Times!

Mark Hinsdale: Mark, that's very interesting. I guess I never though much about grades around Toledo, but in doing so, it does stand to reason there would be some kind of a climb out of the Maumee River basin.

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