glen, i have no idea. only relaying a few questions i put to the “old heads” who were not yet dispatching or maybe not hired out yet when i went dispatching the “eastend” in 1972. movement east of downers on track 1 would have been protected by congress park tower.
Dave:
Are you sure about that. If you are correct, then I wouldn't have had the question. But, from 1930 to CTC (1962 Downers Grove to Eola), all of the ETT's, along with numerous photographs, show that present day track 1 was signaled in both directions.
It was made bi-directional (as track 2 in 1930) when the 4th main was constructed, and remained so when the north main was torn out. The timetables clearly state that tracks 1 and 2 are 'eastward and westward' tracks, and that on BOTH tracks 1 and 2, the
movement of trains in either direction will be governed by signal indications, regardless of superiority.
Not to make this more complicated, but if a train needed a train order to operate against the current, then a train running east on track 1 from Eola to Downers Grove would need a train order at DG to proceed further east on track 1, which was a westward
only track east of there. Since there was a tower at DG, I always presumed that this train would receive the order at DG, but perhaps they needed to receive it at Eola.
Here is another thought. Perhaps the signal arrangement at Eola is from the era when there were 4 tracks, and it has not been updated. Track 1 (of 4) was a 'westward only' track, and would have required at train order at Eola.
At any rate, the whole thing seems strange and out of sync to me.
Glen Haug
prior to ctc track 1 was only signaled westbound, track two both directions, track 3 eastbound. needed train orders to operate against current of traffic between eola and downers.
Louis, great photograph. Looking at the signal bridge in the background, it raises a question that maybe the dispatchers or operators on our list might be able to answer. Why does
the north main (track 1) eastward signal consist only of a 'call-on' signal?
The photo is looking west and the signal bridge (at MP 33.68) controls the west end of the Eola plant (interlocking). The 3 single searchlights are the Westward home signals for the
3 mains, and they control the 'traffic' between Eola and West Eola, which are check-locked against each other. These are absolute signals and must be lined up by the tower. In the eastward direction, the middle and south tracks have double searchlight interlocking
signals, and the south main has an additional (low-slung) 'call-on' signal. The purpose of a 'call-on' signal, when lined up by the towerman, is to allow a train to pass the RED interlocking signal and proceed to the train-order signal at restricted speed,
and then be governed by the train order.
So, to the question, why is there only a 'call-on' signal for the north track? Why is there no eastward interlocking signal for trains to proceed ON SIGNAL INDICATION east on the north
track (or cross-over and proceed east on the middle track).
According the timetable for the period in question (1949), between Downers Grove and Eola, Tracks 1 and 2 (North and Middle) were eastward and westward tracks, and the movement of trains
in either direction was governed by signal indication, regardless of superiority. This was a hold-over from when the 4th main was built in 1930 between DG and Eola, and these two tracks (middle tracks at the time) were signaled bi-directionally. Only the
south track westward was devoid of signals and operated under manual block rules when running against the current (westward).
Also between Eola and West Eola, all 3 tracks were 'eastward and westward', so presumably an eastward train on track 1 was operating under signal indication from West Eola.
I am puzzled by this. The signal arrangement suggests to me that there is no way to proceed through the interlocking on track 1 (or crossing over to track 2) on a 'proceed' indication.
The most favorable indication that can be displayed by the 'call-on' signal is YELLOW, and to get a 'proceed' indication, the train must rely on the eastward 'home' signal at the east end of the interlocking.
Sorry this is long-winded, but maybe someone has an answer.
Glen Haug
July 2, 2019
Dave/Rich - The only image I can find at the moment is attached. It shows the Eola Tower in 1949 with a Class O-5-A powered freight passing by. Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 7/2/2019 1:18:57 PM Central Standard Time,
rgortowski=aol.com@groups.io writes:
Wasn't there a good color photo in the BRHS calendar that Featured George Spier's work? Isn't that the one with semaphores late into the '50's?
Rich G
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Lotz < Dave_Lotz@bellsouth.net>
To: cbq < cbq@groups.io>
Sent: Tue, Jul 2, 2019 7:59 am
Subject: [CBQ] Eola Towers
Hi all,
I am looking for any photos of the Eola Towers to aid in the making of a laser cut kit.
Dave Lotz
Q Connection
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