Ann Arbor Railroad Interlocking Plants

Interlocking Principles         Railway: History, Signaling, Engineering        Railroad signals basics timeline

Ottawa Crossing - Michigan Central (Belt line) controlled from Manhattan tower

• At the crossing of the M. C. R. R. at Ottawa Crossing, trains are governed by interlocker as follows:  When the arms of semaphore are in a horizontal position, or a red light is shown, danger is indicated, and derailing switch at home signal is open.  When the arms of semaphone are in a diagonal position, or white light is shown at night, trains may proceed without stopping for crossing.  Trains approaching crossing will not pass distant distant signal faster than four miles per hour.  [Central Terminal TT 8 8-7-1898]
• Drawing for this crossing point

Manhattan Junction - (Wheeling & Lake Erie tower)

• At the crossing of the W. & L. E. at Manhattan Junction - when placed vertically T. A. A. & N. M. trains will pass; when horizontally, W. & L. E. trains will pass; when diagonally, no trains will pass. [TT 4 8-21-1892] 
• Manhattan Plant Area - Sanborn Map 1890 era - Ann Arbor in Blue, Toledo and Michigan Belt in Red, Wheeling & Lake Erie in Black
• Manhattan Plant - Ann Arbor; Wheeling & Lake Erie; Pennsylvania, Ohio & Detroit; Manufacturers Railroad

Boulevard - 'AX' -(Toledo Railroad and Terminal Company tower)

• Boulevard layout - Ann Arbor; Toledo Terminal; Pennsylvania; Pere Marquette Railroads
• Photograph of Boulevard Tower with signal maintainer building

Hallett - 'XN' - Ann Arbor; Michigan Central; Pere Marquette; Pennsylvania; Toledo Terminal railroads

• Hallet layout - Toledo Terminal RR drawing 1918
• Hallet layout - Michigan Central RR drawing after 1924
• Hallet layout - DT&I era 1974

Alexis - 'N' - (Michigan Central, Michigan Southern & Lake Shore Tower)

• At the crossing of the Michigan Central and L. S. & M. S. at Alexis Junction - when placed vertically T. A. A. & N. M. trains will pass; when horizontally, Michigan Central and L. S. & M. S.  trains will pass; when diagonally, no trains will pass. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• Alexis_Interlocking Undated map - Ann Arbor; Michigan Central; Lake Shore and Michigan Southern; Detroit, Monroe and Toledo Electric Railroads [1900-1932]

Federman (Monroe Junction) - [The station is used for the train ride at Momroe County Fair grounds]

• At the crossing of the L. S. & M. S. Railway at Monroe Junction - when placed vertically T. A. A. & N. M. trains will pass; when horizontally, L. S. & M. S.  trains will pass; when diagonally, no trains will pass. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• Drawing of Federman plant

Diann - 'MX' - (Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Tower)
While cut-off was being constructucted as set of crash boards protected the crosssing.

• Below pictures are linked to Facebook
  Tower under construction    New Tower Completed    Interlock Control Panel  built during 1926 period
• DT&I drawing 4-1-1927 of interlocking plant

Dundee - 'RN' -

• At the crossing of the L. S. & M. S. Railway at Dundee Junction - when placed horizontally T. A. A. & N. M. trains will pass; when vertically, L. S. & M. S.  trains will pass; when diagonally, no trains will pass. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• Dundee 1st - Detroit & Lima Northern; Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee; Ann Arbor Railroads 1899
• Photograph of above interlocking tower

Milan - 'MI' - (Wabash tower)

• At the crossing of the Wabash Railway at Milan Junction - when placed horizontally T. A. A. & N. M. trains will pass; when vertically, Wabash  trains will pass; when diagonally, no trains will pass. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• Milan 1st - Wabash and Ann Arbor Railroads 1899
• Photograph of above interlocking tower and depot

Pittsfield -

• Original called Ypsilanti Junction 7-29-1878 Public timetable, changed to Pittsfield Junctionby 6-22-1884 Public timetable
• Depot and interlocking tower - little shack to right of diamond
• At the crossing of the L. S. & M. S. Railway at Pittsfield Junction - when placed horizontally T. A. A. & N. M. trains will pass; when vertically, L. S. & M. S.  trains will pass; when diagonally, no trains will pass. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• Pittsfield proposed 1898 by Ann Arbor R.R. crossing Lake Shore & Michigan Southern ( Pittsfield Junction )
• Penn Central instruction from Timetable No. 1 April 28, 1968
  STOP.  Proceed indication -- Derails in non-derailing positions.  Derails are time-locked.  Permission  must be obtained from Ann Arbor RR before operating lock.  Normal position for derails is for Ann Arbor R. R.
• Stop gates installed and interlocking plant removed from service along with signals by 8/7/2015

South Lyon - 1880s

• A junction point and interchange with the Detroit, Lansing and Northern also with Michigan Air Line Division of the Grand Trunk Railroad.
• Drawing of junction point with Detroit, Lansing and Northern (Michigan Air Line Railroad drawing)

Hamburg - Michigan Air Line depot

• Connecting track to Michigan Air Line Railroad, originally used for interchange and to get trains to Hamburg Junction (Lakeland area.)  This drawing shows after Lakeland trackage build, interchange still in place.

Lakeland ( Hamburg Junction ) - 'HU' -

• Hamburg Junction 1st - Michigan Air Line [ MAL ] 1896
• Photograph as built interlocking tower and depot

Ann Pere ( Howell Junction ) - 'HO' -

• In the case of Toledo, A. A. & N. M. Ry. Co. vs Detroit, L. & N. R. R. Co., 62 Mich., 564, the objections to the petition held well taken were:
• That it showed no effort to obtain the property by agreement, before taking steps to condemn.
• That it sought to obtain greater rights than the law allows to be condemned
• That it did not properly describe the property sought to be condemned
• Pinckney Dispatch December 8, 1887 -- The memory of the famous “Howell Railroad war” is still green in the hearts of many Michigan people.  The Toledo & Ann Arbor Co. cut under the track of the Detroit, Lansing & Northern near Howell and a the work was done to suit the latter company a row ensued that resulted in the stoppage of trains, tearing up the tracks and lots of lawsuits.  Later, the managers of the two roads got to a better understanding of each other, and it was decided to put a good bridge at the crossing. This work was begun this fall and pushed to the fullest extent and at great cost, but it has now been found that it is impossible to complete the work owing to water and quicksand. Now the Toledo & Ann Arbor folks have changed the route of their road and cross the other road at grade nearer to Howell.  An interlocking switch is to be put in so that trains can pass without stopping. It has been a costly bit of engineering.[Brighton Argus]
• At the crossing of the D. L. & N. at Howell Junction - See rule governing Interlockers. [Rules Interlockers 1]
• Drawing of know right of ways for the Ann Arbor Railroad - three routes are know
• Howell Junction 1st interlock plant proposed 1896 - original crossing was a underpass (D&LN - Detroit & Lansing Northern [over]) (AA - Ann Arbor [under])
• Photographs of Annpere Interlocking Tower second tower, first burned with depot

Durand - 'BY' -

• At the crossing of C. & G. T. and D. G. H. & M. - Enginemen will blow four short blasts of whistle after coming to full stop, and will not proceed until danger signal at crossing is lowered. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• D. G. H. & M., G. T. W., G. T. "Y" are governor by gates [TT 99 4-26-1925]

Owosso Junction - 'SW' -

• Michigan Central at Owosso Junction - T. A. A.  & N. M. trains will cross when semaphore is turned parallel to T. A. A. & N. M. tracks. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• M.C. Interchange track, when target is horizontal A. A. trains may pass.  M. C. main track, when target parallels A. A. main track, or white light is shown at night, A. A. trains may pass. [TT 99 4-26-1925]
• Penn Central Timetable No. 1 April 28, 1968
  Saginaw branch - Color light target - Green light - STOP - Proceed indication -- Green light.  Normal position of signal is for Ann Arbor RR
  Saginaw spur track - Target - Target vertical - STOP - Proceed indication -- Target vertical.  Nomal position of target is for Ann Arbor RR.
• Michigan United Traction Company had diamond across the Ann Arbor Railroad at or near [1] Corunna Avenue and Smith Street, [2] Corunna Avenue and Oakdale Street, in [3] Washington Street crossing.
  These crossings used half-interlocking type of protection.
• Map of Junction with Grand Trunk Western - was original connecting point for the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan for the northern divison.  Begining of running rights for the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Railway to Ashley [later GTW].

Alma - 'DG' -

• At crossing of S. V. & St. L. R. R. - When the target is placed horizontally, S. V. & St. L. trains will pass; when vertically T. A. A. & N. M. trains will pass; when placed diagonally, no trains will pass. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• P. M. main track and spur east of passenger station, when target is vertical A. A. trains may pass [TT 99 4-26-1925]
• Drawing of Interlocking plant [Ann Arbor RR; Pere Marquette RR]

St. Louis - original main line from Ithaca going north

• Crossing of St. Louis and Saginaw Valley RR and Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan map

Mount Pleasant - 'MS' -

• The Saginaw & Mount Pleasant RR [PM - CO - CSX] tracks and the Ann Arbor RR industries trackage jointed to form the area know as the 'HUB' there was no interlocking plant - MAP

Clare - 'B' -

• At crossing of the F. & P. M. at Clare - See rule governing Interlockers [Rules Interlockers 1]
• Drawing of Interlocking plant 1920 - 1940 era

Marion Mile post 208.8 'MN'

• Junction with Manistee & Grand Rapids [Michigan East & West] 1907 – 1915

Cadillac - `CN' - Mile post 226.5

• At crossing of the G. R. & I. at Cadillac - See rule governing Interlockers [Rules Interlockers 1]
• Cadillac tower crossing Grand Rapids & Indiana (PRR), Fire 1-24-1926, Changed mechanical to electrical operation 5-1962, Closed 10/3/1963, Removed diamond 5-1969
• All trains will stop at crossing of G. R. & I. leading to Cummer's Lumber Yards, 1/4 mile north of Cadillac station, and not proceed until gate is property set. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• Murphy & Diggins, Cummer & Diggins, G. R. & I. spur are governor by gates [TT 99 4-26-1925]
• All trains will come to a full stop before crossing the Cadillac & North-Eastern spur, 1 mile north of Cadillac station, and not proceed until gate is properly set.
• Cadillac Tower closed October 9, 1963
• Later State of Michigan removed Pennsyvanlia RR trackage from interlocking plant to throught downtown area leaving yard and leaving trackage north, cconnection to the Ann Arbor was done via the the 'belt line'.

Copemish - 'CO' - Mile post 267.58

• At crossing of the M. & N. E. Railroad at Copemish - Position of Gate will incidate right to pass. [TT 4 8-21-1892]
• M. N. E. crossing is governor by gates [TT 99 4-26-1925]
• Map of Copemish showing Manistee & North East Eastern with Ann Arbor Railroads
• The Arcadia and Betsey River Railroad Junction in the Ann Arbor Railroad just north of Copemish and interchanged cars and turned engines in Copemish.
• The Manistee & North Eastern abandoned trackage thru Copemish in early 1930s, the Ann Arbor RR retained the M&NE trackage in Copemish which had customers with service.
• The Arcadia and Betsey River abandoned trackage from Henry to Copemish which was leased from Ann Arbor Railroad From 12-12-1896 until 1937, the Ann Arbor RR removed its trackage.
• Map of Henry interlock plant in 1900 showing Manistee & North Eastern; Arcadia & Betsey River; Chicago & West Michigan (later PM, C&O) Railroads

Thompsonville - 'MO' - Mile post 270.39

• Thompsonville Interlocking Plant Drawing crossing Pere Marquette RR 1941
• Thompsonville - Ann Arbor RR Depot - Interlocking tower - Pere Marquette RR depot picture

INTERLOCKERS.

Henry F. Burger 11-18-2008, 12-2-2008, 8-4-2009