Location: Cedar Springs, MI - Interlocking Tower

Cedar Springs was located in northern Kent County and was settled about 1855. [MPN] This was the crossing of the north/south Grand Rapids & Indiana and the east/west Grand Trunk Western line from Ashley to Muskegon. It became a village in 1868 and a city in 1960.

Image info: A blueprint of the interlocked crossing at Cedar Springs from 1901. [Mike Delaney collection].

The interlocking tower at Cedar Springs was installed in 1888 and removed in 1930, when the GTW obtained trackage rights over the PRR into Muskegon. The tower was nicknamed "Target". 

Notes

Time Line

1888. Interlocking tower is installed.

1901. The interlocking plant at the crossing of the Grand Rapids & Indiana and the Toledo Saginaw & Muskegon at Cedar Springs has been condemned by the State Commissioner of Railroads and ordered out of service until it shall be thoroughly overhauled and reconstructed. [RA-1901-1018:444]

1902. The railroad commission approves the first-class interlocking at this crossing. [MCR-1902]

1908. The PM installed a new interlocking plant here. [PMAR-1908]

1930. The interlocking tower was removed when the GTW obtained trackage rights over the PRR to Muskegon.