Closed North American railroad interlocking towers and cabins

Working version

Maintained by Jon Roma
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

This list of closed railroad interlocking towers and cabins was extracted from a list originally compiled for the "Tower Tribute" section in the April, 1995 issue of TRAINS magazine.

The assistance of numerous people is gratefully acknowledged.

As with the list of active towers, this list is organized alphabetically by state, with regional subgroupings as needed. A total of closures follows each state or group heading.

The closures listed are those recorded as having occurred between January 1, 2003 and today's date. For more information about listing criteria, see this list's active tower counterpart.

Corrections and updates may be sent via email. Alternatively, you may submit additional information by post to:

Jon Roma
P. O. Box 2155
Champaign, IL 61825-2155


NOTE: This list and the information contained therein may be freely reproduced or used in printed or electronic form for non-commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged and provided that such publication also refers readers to the original list.


Key to symbols

Abbreviations denoting type of interlocking machine:
  E electric (typically GRS model)
  EM electro-mechanical (mechanical frame in conjunction with separate electrical levers interlocked electrically or mechanically with mechanical frame)
  EP electro-pneumatic (typically US&S model)
  M mechanical frame (old ``armstrong'' or ``strong-arm'' levers); presence of pipeline-operated switches, derails, or signals is indicated when known
  R all-relay machine (includes CTC- and "NX"-type panels and other modern variants)
 
Abbreviations denoting type of building or structure:
  B movable bridge cabin, on or next to bridge
  C cabin
  O office (e. g., in yard office or depot building)
  T tower (building with two or more stories)


Illinois   [2]
Chicago area   [2]
Union Pacific (ex-Chicago & North Western)   [1]
name location roads mach. bldg. notes
Barrington Barrington UP (ex-C&NW) O end of double/triple track; inside depot, part time -- to be remoted to Deval?
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern   [1]
name location roads mach. bldg. notes
Barrington Barrington EJ&E, UP (ex-C&NW) T UP Harvard Subdivision (Northwest Line) crossing -- had been staffed on demand; closed May 3, 2003
Louisiana   [1]
New Orleans   [1]
name location roads mach. bldg. notes
Clara Street New Orleans Amtrak (NOUPT) R T controlled Union passenger terminal trackage, was last active brick tower in Louisiana; closed May 27, 2003 with interlocking controlled by Amtrak 21st St. Tower in Chicago, IL.
Ohio   [1]
Columbus   [1]
name location roads mach. bldg. notes
Scioto Columbus CSX (ex-B&O), CR (NYC) E T closed August 2, 2002
Pennsylvania   [5]
Philadelphia area   [5]
SEPTA -- Main Line   [3]
name location roads mach. bldg. notes
Broad Philadelphia SEPTA (ex-PRR) R O office inside Suburban Station
Mark Philadelphia SEPTA O Market Street East station, also controls Vine; new office built 1984
Wayne Jct. Philadelphia SEPTA (ex-RDG) T tower also houses Wind, controls various interlockings on SEPTA's ex-RDG trackage
SEPTA -- Airport Line   [1]
name location roads mach. bldg. notes
A Philadelphia SEPTA, CR (ex-RDG) T new tower (block-like building) built 1984, controls Airport Line, CR access
SEPTA -- Chestnut Hill Line (ex-PRR)   [1]
name location roads mach. bldg. notes
Chestnut Hill West Chestnut Hill SEPTA (ex-PRR) O inside station, part time
Closed towers listed:   9


Updated on Monday, June 7, 2004 at 15:28.