Interlocking: Grand Junction, MI

Grand Junction was settled about 1869 with an Inn being built here. [MPN] The junction was the crossing of the north/south Chicago & West Michigan (later Pere Marquette) branch from Holland to Chicago, and the east/west Kalamazoo & South Haven. The tower was staffed by the PM.

Photo info: Top, a MC passenger train pulls across the C&WM diamond at Grand Jct. The depot belongs to the Pere Marquette (C&WM) which crosses here. 2nd photo, a black and white postcard view of the crossing. Along with the tower and depot, the Acme Hotel is at the left of the tower. 3rd photo, a postcard view of the interlocking tower and depot, with a PM train. [Both, Alan Loftis collection]. 4th photo, A 1906 photo of Grand Jct. with interlocking depot and tower shown. A track crew appears to be repairing the rail in front of the tower. [Mark Worrall collection]. 5th-7th photos, inside and outside Grand Junction interlocking tower.

Notes

Time Line

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

1906. A new water station was erected by the Pere Marquette here. [PMAR-1906]

1949. The tower at Grand Junction is removed during the C&O's CTC installation between Porter, IN and Lamar (Grand Rapids). It was replaced with a ordinary switch stand which had a timer and controlled signals on the C&O and Hayes derails on the NYC. An NYC train crew wishing to cross called the CTC operator who set the C&O signals to stop and released an electric lock allowing NYC trainmen to remove the derails. [RSE-1949-04]

1949. The passing siding here is extended to 2 miles long, and controlled by CTC. [RSE-1949-04]