Louis,
While I concur with your comments about the CBQ yahoo group members knowledge sharing; I would offer that the Burlington Route Historical Society publications are even better in several ways.
Just my humble opinion,
Leo
Sent from my iPad
July 5, 2016
Glen - BRILLIANT! Isn't this a wonderful Group, where else in the world can
you find information like what appears here on a regular basis.... Best Regards
- Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
Leo and Group:
To reinforce Bob Campbell's answer, the signal bridge is at MP 27.04.
From the pattern of the laterals, it can be seen that it is not actually
a 4 track bridge, but rather a 3 track bridge with a 14 foot extension, on the
south (the pole line was on the north side). This pins it down to
between Curve 22 at Belmont and Curve 27 east of Naperville (all of the signal
bridge extensions west of Curve 27 were on the north side). It's ladder
is also at the northwest corner of the bridge, which rules out (according to
the signal bridge plans) any of the other bridges between Belmont and Curve
27. If correct, here is the history of
signal bridge 27.04, and the signals on it.
It was erected in 1913, and the first
automatic block signals attached to it were Hall Style-K 60 degree
lower-quadrant double arm (home and distant) semaphores, placed in service in 1914. The
middle track was signaled in both directions.
In 1925 and 1926, Burlington replaced the
vast majority of the semaphores between Chicago and Aurora with color
lights. Although most color light signals at that time were 2-color
light, because the home and distant semaphores were the equivalent of
home signals with successive ‘approach’ aspects, the replacement signals
would need to be 3-color light. The Q picked GRS triangular color
light signals, equipped with individual 8-3/8” standard green, yellow, and red
lenses. The light pattern was green on the upper left, yellow on the
upper right, and red on the bottom. In the photo, you can see the green
lens lit eastward on the most southerly main. Prior to taking out the semaphores, the new
color-light signals were attached to the signal bridges using short lengths of
5” diameter scrap superheater flues. At the same time, the signaling
circuits for the middle track were changed from an overlap system to APB, and
the bi-directional signals were maintained. The north and south tracks
were already APB, and remained single directional.
In 1929, the 14' extension was added to the
south side for the 4th main. The 4th main was placed in service in 1930,
and the two middle tracks were signaled bi-directional. The north main
was taken out in 1934, and (the now designated) Mains 1 and 2 remained
bi-directional and Main 3 was an eastward track. The tri-color lights
were eventually replaced with searchlights. In 1951, signal bridge 27.04
was relocated to MP 27.42, including the extension, in preparation for cab
signals. In late 1962, CTC was completed between Downers Grove and Eola,
Main 3 became bi-directional, and the bridge had a full compliment of single
searchlights for all 3 tracks in both directions.
In the BN era, this signal bridge was
relocated to the east end of a new control point at East Naperville in
1982. There is still a signal bridge here, but I believe it is a
replacement.
Glen Haug
Thanks to all in the group and off line who responded to my post on the
photo of the fourth main. See below Bob Cambell's definitive answer as to the
location of the photo below.
Leo Phillipp
Subject: Fwd: 4th Main Downers to Eola-Really Good Old Days
on the Q
From: Amtrak347@aol.comDate: July
4, 2016 at 12:29:42 PM CDT Subject: Re: 4th Main Downers
to Eola-Really Good Old Days on the Q
Leo -
It's absolutely, positively, Milepost 27 (just beyond the signal
bridge, north of old main #1). There is a photo, I believe in one of
the Naperville Heritage Society's books, that has a photograph taken of a
group of lady golfers standing on the 6th tee box at the Naperville
Country Club. That photo was taken in the north east corner of the
golf course, and in the photo is the white corner fence that appears in
the Barriger photo, in addition to the signal bridge in the
background. I know this subject was previously discussed several
years ago and apparently I have lost my e-mail record of such
discussion. I need to add a comment to the Barriger caption to
correct my previous comments with MP36er. Today, the Naper Blvd.
underpass would be in the background, further east (as I recall, this and
other underpasses between Eola and Downers Grove have extended abutments
to accommodate a "replacement" 4th main, if so desired by the RR; this
would be expensive changes at four stations!).
Bob
Several of you are not on the CBQ Yahoo group so I'm sending
this separately . This photo
Is from the Q section of the Barriger
library collection. It's unidentified but the photos in front
And
behind are Chicago and Aurora from the 1930s.
The Q added the
fourth main between Downers and Eola in 1929/30 and took it out in
'34.
This is documented in Overtons Burlington Route and in Aurora
Div. ETTS. That I Have in my
Collection.
Looking at the photo
the steel mill slag ballast,the pole line with all those code and
telephone lines
The signal bridge,etc screams east end to me. Also
note the ballast on the left hand main is
Lighter(newer) than the
others. The 4th main was on the North side. So the photo is
correct
Unless it's reversed.
I'm guessing this is between
Naperville and Eola but not sure.
Can anyone identify the
location more closely
?
Thanks,
Leo
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