Location: Toledo, OH - Alexis Tower

Alexis Interlocking Tower was at the crossing of the NYC Detroit line and the Ann Arbor/PRR and Pere Marquette lines heading north and northwest out of the city. This was a Michigan Central tower.

Image info: Top, a valuation photo of Alexis tower in 1918. Note some pipe controls leaving the base of the tower. 2nd image, Alexis Tower on the north side of Toledo, Ohio.  This tower protected the crossing of both NYC main lines to Detroit as well as the Ann Arbor Railroad and the C&O.  In its heyday, the tower also saw trains of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 1983. 3rd photo, the interlocking plant in Alexis was a combination of "strongarm" type, as well as two additional electric interlocking machines (green units).  These may have controlled nearby interlockings such as "K", just south of Alexis. 1989. [Both, Charlie Whipp]; 4th photo an Ann Arbor railroad train passes Alexis Tower (under Conrail ownership) in 1979. Charles Geletzke Jr. photo.

Notes

Time Line

1917, The MC had an towerman-operator here around-the-clock. [TRT]

1923. January 13. A rear end collision on the Pere Marquette here kills two and injures four.  ICC Report [PDF]

1925. The Michigan Central adds 12 electromechanical levers to this interlocking. [RSC-1925]