Interlocking: Jackson, MI - OD Tower

OD Tower was located south of downtown Jackson. This was the crossing of the north-south Lake Shore & Michigan Southern’s Jackson Branch, and the east-west Michigan Air Line and Jackson & Fort Wayne lines (which later operated as a double track main line). Just south of OD, the Cincinnati Northern verged south to Bryan, Ohio via Hudson.

OD Tower also controlled the interlocked crossing of the former LSMS Jackson Branch which went north along what is now Airline Drive, terminating at the freight house (which is now restored as a restaurant].

Photo Info: Top, a 1940's photo of "OD" Tower, south of downtown Jackson. The locomotive is 1700, a Big Four Mikado which was typical of CCC&StL power of the day. The train is going from west to south, from the MC Air Line branch onto a short stretch of NYC Jackson Branch, before heading down the Big Four's own CN branch through Hudson and Bryan, Ohio. [Jim Tarbell, Doug Leffler collection]

Notes

The east-west tracks here were originally two independent tracks.. The south track was the Michigan Air Line railroad which headed east from OD to the MC Jackson yard. The north track was the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw line which headed east from OD into a wye which went to the “Fort Wayne” yard and Union depot. Later when both roads came under Vanderbilt control, the tracks became a double tracked line through OD and then later became a single track line.

Time Line

1886. The Michigan Air Line special at midnight ran over and killed an unknown man at the south limits of Jackson. The accident was discovered by engine wipers finding blood and bits of flesh on the pilot and wheels. [LCS-1886-0812] Editors note: This was likely just west of OD tower.

1903. This was a Saxby-Farmer Lever machine installed by the Union Switch & Signal Co. [MCR-1904]

1917. This tower was staffed by Michigan Central operator/levermen around the clock, $76-$78 per month. [TRT]