Interlocking: 20th Street Tower, Detroit, MI

Twentieth Street Tower was at the west entrance of the Michigan Central station. The tower controlled passenger, mail and switching movements out of the west end of the station, and the nearby coach yard.

Photo info: Top, the inside of the 20th street tower with the leverman in front of the interlocker. [Ernie Novak photo]. 2nd photo, a broader view of the depot and 20th street tower in the early 1960's. [Peter Dudley collection]

Notes

Outbound trains from MC station at 20th Street were routed west to Chicago, south to Toledo via West Detroit interlocking, and north to Saginaw, Bay City and Mackinaw City via Bay City Junction.

The 3rd rail electrification of the tunnel extended into the MC station at this location, going as far west as Bay City Junction.

Location: 42^o19.701'N / 83^o04.933'W.

Time Line

1946. This tower had a train director in addition to levermen who handled the switches and signals. The train director likely had supervision of 15th street tower as well. [ETT]