Semaphore Sunday
This was taken by Robert W. McQuown and labeled 1953 and the trees are full so I would say it's summertime. I don't know much about Hoopeston tower, other than th C&EI crossed the NKP (LE&W) line and had a Union Station located in the S/W quadrant of the diamond (at left in photo). The tower was located in the N/E quadrant. This is photo 2 of 2 taken at Hoopeston on this day. The 1st shot was taken in the tower. This view looks north.
In this photo, a man is seen walking across the C&EI tracks towards the depot. It's possible that he is heading back to his train, as the eastbound NKP T.O. signal shows a stop and receive orders indication. Also in the distance on the southbound track is a crew that is switching. Both train order signals for the C&EI and the NKP and the southbound C&EI home signal made the photo, all of which are semaphores.
A great story about this location was told by Robert McQuown in a article he wrote in the C&EI Flyer:
"Hoopeston tower was on the lowest point on the NKP (LE&W) between 2 ascending hills east and west of Hoopeston. We always said that the NKP ran on smoke signals here as the block system was, when you saw an engine smoking toward you from either hilltop, you better make plans to line up the crossing..."
C&EI Hoopeston, Illinois tower
Crossing of the NKP (nee-LE&W)
1953?
Photo and all information Robert W. McQuown
Courtesy of the C&EIHS, Danville Chapter
Semaphore Sunday
This was taken by Robert W. McQuown and labeled 1953 and the trees are full so I would say it's summertime. I don't know much about Hoopeston tower, other than th C&EI crossed the NKP (LE&W) line and had a Union Station located in the S/W quadrant of the diamond (at left in photo). The tower was located in the N/E quadrant. This is photo 2 of 2 taken at Hoopeston on this day. The 1st shot was taken in the tower. This view looks north.
In this photo, a man is seen walking across the C&EI tracks towards the depot. It's possible that he is heading back to his train, as the eastbound NKP T.O. signal shows a stop and receive orders indication. Also in the distance on the southbound track is a crew that is switching. Both train order signals for the C&EI and the NKP and the southbound C&EI home signal made the photo, all of which are semaphores.
A great story about this location was told by Robert McQuown in a article he wrote in the C&EI Flyer:
"Hoopeston tower was on the lowest point on the NKP (LE&W) between 2 ascending hills east and west of Hoopeston. We always said that the NKP ran on smoke signals here as the block system was, when you saw an engine smoking toward you from either hilltop, you better make plans to line up the crossing..."
C&EI Hoopeston, Illinois tower
Crossing of the NKP (nee-LE&W)
1953?
Photo and all information Robert W. McQuown
Courtesy of the C&EIHS, Danville Chapter