Photograph 4/60, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour
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THE SIGNAL BOX |
OVERSEAS |
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Photograph 4/60, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour |
Some signal towers didn't "tower" in any respect, and this example at Dubuque shows that the Illinois Central chose to call it a cabin instead.
The view looks south towards Chicago along the double track line used by trains of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago Great Western Railroads, although the line was actually owned by the Illinois Central.
The lower quadrant semaphore signal is an "order board".
 Photograph 4/60, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour |
The insignificant-looking cabin was in fact packed with interesting equipment. This comprises a small mechanical frame working points, an inverted miniature frame (as at 61st Street) for the signals, and (out of view to the right) a table lever machine controlling remote signalling.
All of this equipment was installed in 1946 by the Union Switch and
Signal Co., at the joint expense of the IC, CB&Q and CGW railroads.
 Photograph 4/60, by Dr. J W F Scrimgeour |
And here is the aforementioned "table lever machine".
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Comments about this article should be addressed to John Hinson |