Interlocking: Otter Lake Tower, MI

Otter Lake Tower was an interlocking tower which was constructed after the Michigan Central's Bay City branch was built through here crossing the Pere Marquette's forest branch to Fostoria in Tuscola County. This tower had 21 levers (14 active) for 3 switches, 7 derails and 10 signals.

Photo Info: Top, a very old photo of the interlocking tower. Note the pipes along the tracks which controlled switches and signals. [Charlie Whipp]. 2nd photo, a map of the interlocking in 1902 drawn from blueprints in the State of Michigan Archives. [Dale Berry] 

Notes

Time Line

1902. The railroad commission approves a first-class interlocker at this crossing. [MCR-1902]

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