Photograph 10/6/58, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour
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THE SIGNAL BOX |
OVERSEAS |
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Photograph 10/6/58, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour |
A view of the junctions at 16th Street, taken from the Illinois Central tracks, looking west. 16th Street tower is on the right, with the New York Central and Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific lines passing in front and crossing the IC on the level.
On the left is the block hut belonging to the IC railroad, whilst in the background two lift bridges can be seen. These carry the Illinois Central and the Baltimore & Ohio across the Chicago river.
 Photograph 10/6/58, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour |
A 152-lever GRS Model 2 interlocking machine, installed in 1901, controls the layout. An additional 48-lever machine was added in 1929 to control crossovers between the NYC and the Rock island tracks at 22nd Street.
 Photograph 10/6/58, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour |
This rotary train describer, operated by clockwork and electric pulses, identified trains between here and La Salle Street, the Chicago terminus used by the NYC and CRI&P. Descriptions shown, starting at "1 o'clock", can be deciphered as follows:
| RI SUB | Rock Island Suburban |
| spare | |
| SPL RI | Rock Island Special |
| L.EN RI | Rock Island Light Engine |
| SUB L | Suburban (to where?) |
| NKP | Nickel Plate |
| NY Error | New York Error |
| EXP | Express |
| L.EN 2 | Light Engine (to where?) |
| ? | ? |
| SPC | ? |
| NYC WSH | New York Central Washington |
| spare | |
| NYC THR | New York Central (through) |
| THR RI | Rock Island (through) |
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Comments about this article should be addressed to John Hinson |