Location: Detroit, MI - Clark Avenue Interlocking

Clark Avenue was the location of an interlocking tower on the Union Belt of Detroit. It was located about half way between Fort Street Union Station and Delray and the operator here controlled crossovers, the street railway and the highway signals.

Notes

Time Line

1904. The MCR orders the installation of a first class interlocking and derailing swithc and signal system at this crossing. [MCR-1904]

1905. The PM installs a new interlocking plant here. [PMAR-1905]

1929: The PM installs a new interlocker made by US&S, which includes 10 electric levers and six power-operated switches. This interlocking includes the Union Belt as well as the Detroit street railway on Clark. [RSC-1930]

1941. Robert Miller, 17 was instantly killed when the auto in which he was riding was struck by an eastbound passenger train and hurled into the path of a westbound freight train at the Union Belt Railroad and Clark street. Police arrested Thomas Ross, 23, the tower operator, for investigation of manslaughter when witnesses reported that the gates at the crossing were not lowered as the two trains approached from opposite directions. Ross told police he was unable to lower the crossing gates because of a faulty mechanism. He admitted having drunk six bottles of beer shortly before he reported for work an hour before the accident. He was charged with manslaughter. Investigators concluded that he fell asleep before the accident happened. [DET-1941-1011]