CB&Q Oakland Tower -- 9 Photos
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy each had a single track between Division Street Tower and St. Croix Tower in St. Paul, MN. The railroads are now the Canadian Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The tracks were/are along the east side of the Mississippi River. Division Street Tower was at the east end of St. Paul Union Station and St. Croix tower was where the railroads diverged for the CB&Q to remain on the east side of the River and the Milwaukee Road crossing over to the west side. Both lines then followed the River south (railroad east) for many miles. They met again in La Crosse, WI.
Between Division Street Tower and Oakland Tower were two yards. The CB&Q's was called Dayton Bluff after the adjacent bluff and was east of the joint double track mainline. The Milwaukee's was Pigs Eye after the adjacent lake. It was on the west (River) side of the main line. The south exit of Pigs Eye Yard was at Oakland Tower.
Oakland Tower could crossover trains between either track in either direction and let trains in and out of Pigs Eye. The tower is long gone but the interlocking plant is still there (remotely controlled) last time I went by.
The CB&Q employees at Oakland Tower were Operator/Levermen meaning they could write Train Orders and Clearances and pull levers. I substituted there in June 1964 for vacationing Operator/Levermen.
The story continues with the captions to the photos.
CRI&P GP7 1298 with a transfer from their yard at Inver Grove at Oakland Tower on June 4,1964.
BTW, this is the best diesel locomotive paint scheme ever.
CB&Q Oakland Tower -- 9 Photos
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy each had a single track between Division Street Tower and St. Croix Tower in St. Paul, MN. The railroads are now the Canadian Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The tracks were/are along the east side of the Mississippi River. Division Street Tower was at the east end of St. Paul Union Station and St. Croix tower was where the railroads diverged for the CB&Q to remain on the east side of the River and the Milwaukee Road crossing over to the west side. Both lines then followed the River south (railroad east) for many miles. They met again in La Crosse, WI.
Between Division Street Tower and Oakland Tower were two yards. The CB&Q's was called Dayton Bluff after the adjacent bluff and was east of the joint double track mainline. The Milwaukee's was Pigs Eye after the adjacent lake. It was on the west (River) side of the main line. The south exit of Pigs Eye Yard was at Oakland Tower.
Oakland Tower could crossover trains between either track in either direction and let trains in and out of Pigs Eye. The tower is long gone but the interlocking plant is still there (remotely controlled) last time I went by.
The CB&Q employees at Oakland Tower were Operator/Levermen meaning they could write Train Orders and Clearances and pull levers. I substituted there in June 1964 for vacationing Operator/Levermen.
The story continues with the captions to the photos.
CRI&P GP7 1298 with a transfer from their yard at Inver Grove at Oakland Tower on June 4,1964.
BTW, this is the best diesel locomotive paint scheme ever.