Location: Jackson, MI - M.A.L. Crossing

M.A.L. Crossing (known as MC crossing on the GTW) was just north of Jackson. An interlocking tower was located here to control the MC Grand Rapids/Saginaw branches and the GTW Jackson Branch. The crossing also controlled the Jackson & Northern industrial line which crossed the GTW here. An interurban bridge crossed the MC tracks here but did not cross at grade.

Image Info: Top, M.A.L. Junction north of Jackson. The tower was known on the Grand Trunk as Michigan Central crossing. [CMUL]. 2nd photo, the interlocking tower at M.A.L. Junction just north of Jackson. The steam powered passenger train is heading south towards downtown on the GTW and is a Michigan Railroad Club excursion on October 19, 1968. [Doug Leffler collection]. 3rd photo, another view of the crossing looking north. [Doug Leffler]. 4th photo, GTW 4542 west stops for instructions at the tower before heading into Jackson. 5th photo, the caboose brings up the rear of the short train, 1974. [Both, Doug Leffler]. 6th photo, the tower in 1963, at the time boarded up but still in use. 6th photo, a view of the crossing shortly after the GTW was pulled up. September, 1975. [Jim Sinclair]. 7th photo/map, a drawing of the Michigan Air Line Crossing, c. 1916 taken from blueprints in the State of Michigan Archives. [Dale Berry]

Notes

The Michigan Air Line railroad was the original owner of the right-of-way of this GTW branch line which was intended to go from Niles to Pontiac via Jackson. Before the south end was finished, that portion west from Jackson was leased to the Michigan Central railroad. The east section, north and east of Jackson, was leased to the Grand Trunk Western in 1878. Instead of building from Jackson Junction, they came southwest into Jackson in 1883 along the Grand River, just north of downtown. MAL Junction was created when the railroad was built. The GTW referred to this crossing as Michigan Central crossing, or "MC" crossing. The Michigan Central called it Michigan Air Line Crossing. In 1878, the interlocking tower was built here. [TSE-1914-04]

The tower initially was staffed during the day shift, but was operated after 1932 by the station agent at Jackson, who would drive up the road and throw the signals for the GTW train and then return them to the MC and close up. At other times, the train crew would line up the route in the tower themselves. This tower was just north of the I-94 overpass and you could see the northbound signals and the tower from the freeway.

From its installation around 1878 until it was upgraded around 1914, M.A.L. crossing had an early mechanical interlocking which used five capstan wheels and wires to control locks, derails and signals. It was installed by the Union Switch & Signal company and was said to be one of the earliest examples of a tower interlocking in the United States.

To view a 1914 article from The Signal Engineer about this interlocking, click here.

MAL owns the 24" diamond crossing of the Bennett Sewer Pipe Company, in an agreement dated January 10, 1902. [GTWHS-2021-Win]

Time Line

Image info: Top, this interlocking had capstan controls. Five wheels controlled derails, locks and signals. 2nd image, all functions were operated by wires and pullies. [TSE-1914-4]

1878. The original interlocking is installed by US&S. It is a capstan-style interlocking with five large wheels controlling signals, derails and locks. The signals were pulled by wire pulley control. [RSE-2014-4]

1883. MAL owns and maintains at it's own expense two diamonds under an agreement dated July 26, 1883. MAL cares for its lamps at its own expense.

1913. July 13. There was a head on collision between two passenger trains on the MC near this crossing. The fireman was killed and 42 passengers were injured. An engineer died later. The cause was as a result of failure to follow orders.  ICC Report [PDF]

1914. January 25. A head on collision on the MC near this location kills 2 and injures 44. The accident was caused by the failure of a freight train to clear the track for a scheduled passenger train.  ICC Report [PDF]

1914. The GTW installed a 24-lever mechanical interlocking plant in the tower here. [TSE-1/1915]. Railway Review says that the new plant was 20 levers, with 18 working. [RR-1915-0102]

1923, The MPSC allows changes in the interlocking to allow for a second main track on the MC. [MPSC-1923]

Articles

• Interlocking in the 1870's (GTW M.A.L. Crossing) - [TSE]