Dear List, This is from our fledgling Interlocking Towers List. I thought it might be of interest to some of you! James Humbert [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- From: "Steven Rosen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Very excited to hear about your tower list, and see that we may have crossed paths in our career. You were in Riverdale, the first tower I worked in was Riverdale Tower (1978 until it closed) which was at the East end of Barr Yard. While I worked for the IC, I worked at Homewood Tower and I trained at Randolph. I think I spent one day training at 67th, but about that time, Metra took over and I made the choice to stay with ICRR freight towers. We probably know people in common, too. I retired in the early 90s having worked most of the IC towers in the Chicago terminal. Steven Rosen -------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Steve, Wow! Did you dislodge a whole lot of memories! I lived in Pacecetter in Riverdale and went to Gen. George S. Patton School, hard by the car shop and diesel house at Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal's Barr Yard. I was, of course, within reasonable walking distance to Riverdale Tower. I wonder if we have ever met? I began my lifelong love and association with interlocking towers right there at Riverdale Tower. I hate to sound middle-aged, but when I grew up and became interested in railroads, it was a much simpler time. I do not think I ever encountered a railroad "dick" until sometime in the 1980's! Thus, suffice it to say, I spent an inordinate amount of time watching trains and railroad operations in and around Riverdale Interlocking. I have also been up inside the decrepit, old building many, many times! Even now, when I close my eyes, I can envision the cream-colored, faded walls, the many leaky windows, the substantial operator's desk and the long row of so-called "Armstrong" levers of different colors and functions. I wonder if I have ever encountered you on one of my myriad trips to what I consider my railroading "Mecca" (or "Western Wall," in my case)! Things I remember about Riverdale that stand out in my mind: One, its remote, inaccessible location, relative to the intensely urban surroundings nearby. It stood on a southwest-northeast alignment, hard along the western right-of-way boundary of the Illinois Central Railroad. Correct me if I am wrong, but I learned that Riverdale Interlocking was originally controlled by a tower manned by a B&OCT operator/leverman. Sometime after the Illinois Central elevated its substantial, seven or eight track-wide right-of-way through Riverdale, they entered into an agreement with the B&OCT to "swap" responsibilities for traffic control. The B&OCT was offered control of the junction at Harvey (IL), in exchange for ICRR assuming responsibility for maintenance and control of Riverdale, even though ICRR now had very little to do with the actual interlocking, due to the fact that it now passed over the B&OCTRR and also the Pennsylvania Railroad "Panhandle (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis/PCC&StL)! I might add that the ICRR did have important connections at Riverdale to both the B&OCTRR and the PCC&StL, which allowed the IC access to Acme Steel alongside the Little Calumet River at Acme Bend. Also, I remember that the levers inside the tower always seemed to be somewhat hard to throw. I know as much as you do (now!) that every lever probably had its own "English, " or trick to getting it to throw over completely, without the risk of injury to the operator. I remember watching in utter amazement one time, while a relief operator named Dennis struggled with a lever that would clear a westbound bottle train on the Panhandle. He was not particularly "athletic"--in fact, he was short, fat and he wore pants that were several sizes too large, (for comfort when resting between moves, no doubt)! After offering to help him several times, to no avail, I stood back and watched him struggle to the point where the lever finally gave way. He not only gave way with it, but so did his flimsy belt, holding those "comfortable" trousers of his! I tried to contain my laughter after that point, but I will never forget the image of Dennis at the moment of victory over the forces of physics and resistance, red-faced and searching in vain for a way to retrieve his slacks, which were casually gathered about his ankles! Dennis and I later became good friends when I worked as a tower operator at Randolph Street (Metra Electric District/ICRR), where he often worked as Power Supervisor at Randolph Control (we did not have dispatchers at ME, but a power supervisor's desk, who acted like a dispatcher and whom also controlled distribution of ME's 1500 volt-D.C. overhead catenary power distribution). Well, gang, I really have to get going for now. I just got bumped off CP's old Soo East Side Extra Board. I briefly marked to a SOO West Side Pool (St. Paul-Glenwood, MN), but got bumped off by some sharpshooter, before I even made a trip! I had to settle for a slot on the Soo West Side Extra Board. Oh well, you know what they say, "No seenie, you get the weenie!" More later! Markers, J.E. Humbert [EMAIL PROTECTED] BLE Div.#494, Canadian Pacific Railway St. Paul, MN ------------------------------------------------------ This is the Illiana Railroad Discussion List. 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