Location: Royal Oak, MI - Fourth Street Tower

Fourth Street tower was a highway crossing signal tower in Royal Oak on the Grand Trunk Western main line. This was across from the Royal Oak GT depot. This was also an interlocked crossing of the GT and a DUR interurban railroad line which was along W. Fourth Street. [MCR-1903]

Image into: A view of the Grand Trunk depot and tower likely after 1921. A southbound GT freight train is approaching and the street crossing gates are down. A signalman is in the tower.  [CMUL]

Notes

Note that the GTW was single track when the above photo was taken after 1931.

When comparing the photo above to Sanborn Insurance maps from the era, a 1916 version of [SBM] indicates a DUR interurban station on W. Fourth Avenue at S. Washington, just to the left of the tower in the photo. There was no tower in the 1916 version. The tower (and nearby DUR station) shows up in a 1921 version of [SBM]. In the photo above the DUR tracks are not present on W. Fourth Street, so this may have been after the DUR was pulled up later, maybe in the 1930's. The photo of the tower indicates interlocking pipes going north to the double semaphore controlling southbound movements on the GT. There are also interlocker pipes going under the road, probably to the northbound GT signals, a passing track switch, and perhaps to the Fourth Street crossing arms.

The DUR line on S. Fourth Avenue was built across the GTW in 1899, and abandoned in 1931. This would indicate that the photo was after 1931. The tower was still used as a signal station for the Royal Oak GT depot, and handled the crossing gates as well.

Time Line

1899. The state railroad commission approves the crossing of the DGH&M and theDetroit and Lake Orion Railway, an electric line. This was a half interlocker with derails on the electric line and signals on the DGH&M. This may have been operated originally from the depot. [JH/GTWHS-2024-W]

1902. The railroad commission received a concern from the GTW calling attention of the interlocking appliance at this crossing in the village of Royal Oak. A personal inspection of the premises was made and found the appliance was in unsatisfactory condition. The DUR company made the necessary repairs. [MCR-1903]

1915. The railroad commission orders a full interlocking with derails and signals at this location. A new tower with 17 working levers (24 lever frame) was built across from the depot. Train order work was also moved to the tower from the depot. [JH/TWHS-2024-W]

1917. The GTW installs a second main track from Milwaukee Junction to this location and the west end of the 2nd main track was incorporated in interlocking. The double track continued west in 1931. [JH/GTWHS-2024-W]

1934. July 22. PROWLER IN TOWER ROUTS SIGNALMAN

ROYAL OAK, July 22. A prowler that took possession of a railway signal tower at Fourth Street and the Grand Trunk tracks in Royal Oak early Sunday was slain by a bullet from a patrolman's revolver after the signalman had been attacked and put to flight.

Harry Lewis, in charge of the tower, set the crossing warning bell ringing as a freight train approached, and descended to pass orders to the train's crew. When he returned to his lookout, the prowler leaped on his back. Lewis fought him off and for a moment it appeared that his assailant was going to leap from a window. Then he wheeled on Lewis and attacked him so viciously that the signalman fled. Patrolman Stewart Lehman noticed that the warning bell did not cease ringing after the freight passed and hurried to investigate.

He climbed up the tower, revolver in hand, and confronted the invader. Lehman fired when he was threatened with attack. The prowler, a large raccoon, was killed instantly. Where the raccoon came from in Lewis' brief absence police have been unable to determine. [DFP-7/23/1934]

1947. The street railway discontinued operation and the diamonds were removed. The signal tower remained to control crossing gates and operation on the GTW. [JH/GTWHS-2024-W]

1952. The tower, which had been used to control gates and as a train order office, is out of service. [GTWHS-2023-F]