#tytower

[railwayhistorical]

Tuscola Trio

These three images were made in Tuscola, Illinois. This is where the Illinois Central, the Missouri Pacific (former C&EI), and the B&O all converged on a single spot to form a triple crossing.

First, an Illinois Central local, with 8010 on point, moves southward by the ancient tower (controlled by the IC, the oldest road here). Next we see a Chicago-bound MoPac train with 3214 leading the way. And lastly we have B&O GP30 6963 on the point of a westbound freight rattling over the complicated diamond.

All three of these images were made in a relatively short time on September 25th 1976. Photographs by Richard Koenig.

[railwayhistorical]

TY Tower

Here’s a northbound freight on the Illinois Central main line. We’re in Tuscola and the photographer is looking westward on the B&O while the sunlight of late fall reveals every detail of TY tower. In addition to the IC and B&O, the Chicago & Eastern Illinois (C&EI) crosses at the same spot, in a diagonal fashion.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken November 20th 1976.

[railwayhistorical]

Southbound at TY

A southbound freight on the Illinois Central mainline rolls by the tower at Tuscola, Illinois. The IC crossed both the B&O and C&EI at this spot. One image by Richard Koenig; taken September 24th 1977.

[railwayhistorical]

Southbound Shawnee

Here we see train number 391 hurtling down the track at Tuscola, Illinois. This tower (TY) guards a three-way crossing with the Illinois Central, B&O, and C&EI. I really enjoy all the track-side structures and details in this image.

The speed limit at the time was 90 MPH, and this train was doing every bit of that as I recall; I have the feeling I was perched on a signal for this shot.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken on November 20th 1976.

[railwayhistorical]

TY Tower

This image documents an interesting triple railroad crossing at Tuscola, Illinois. Lines of the Illinois Central, the Chicago &  Eastern Illinois, and the Baltimore & Ohio, all met and crossed there.

The oldest line here, the Illinois Central, ran the tower, named TY. Their mainline was double-tracked, so that made the interlocking all the more complicated. (The arrangement was changed to a more simplified scheme a year or two later.) The photographer is looking westward; it appears that an eastbound B&O train has been given permission to cross the other two roads.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken around 1990 (I believe).