Interlocking: Lakeland Tower, MI

Lakeland Junction was the interlocked crossing of the Grand Trunk Western Jackson Branch and the Ann Arbor railroad main line, near Hamburg.

The location is currently the location of the Zukey Lake tavern.

Photo Info: Top, the Lakeland Tower is on the left of the train which is stopped at Zukey Lake. [Mark Worrall collection]. 2nd photo, the interlocking tower and depot at Lakeland.  4th and 5th photos, an Ann Arbor railroad train heads south across the Lakeland interlocker which was automated by this time and the tower removed. This was in the early 1980's when the GTW Jackson Branch was all but abandoned. [Charlie Whipp]. 4th photo, a USGS map showing the two railroad lines and the junction. [USGS, Dale Berry]

Notes

This was an interlocked crossing with tower. The towerman had a great view of the Zukey Lake beach swimmers.

Time Line

1918. The AARR had a day tower operator here. [TRT]

1945. The crossing towerman was day shift only. There was a 17 car passing track on the AARR. The GTW apparently seldom crossed here at night. [ETT-1945]