Interlocking: Clare Tower, Clare, MI

Clare Tower was located across from the union depot and it controlled the crossing of the Pere Marquette line from Saginaw to Ludington, and the Ann Arbor railroad main line from Toledo to Frankfort.

Photo info:  Top, a southbound Ann Arbor passenger train, in the form of a single motor car, heads past the Clare depot and interlocking tower. It appears another motor car is following behind or in a siding. The photo is likely form the 1930's or 1940's. [Alan Loftis collection]

Notes

The mechanical interlocking plant was built by the Union Switch & Signal Co. (US&S). It had a sixteen-lever frame, with six levers controlling 10 switches, five controlling ten movable derails and four controlling 10 signals. There was one extra lever. The operator had to first conform that the opposing route was "locked out" before setting the signals for a train to proceed. [WIR]

Time Line

1898. October 5. The interlocking tower at Clare was placed in service, almost 11 years after the Union Depot at Clare was opened. It was built, owned and staffed by the Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan railway, and controlled the crossing of the Flint & Pere Marquette. 

1918. The AARR had a tower operator here 24/7, with the operators paid by both railroads. [TRT]

1991. In April, the interlocking plant and signals were dismantled, with the diamond now being protected by a locking gate. [AATHA-1991-Sum]

1955. May 10. The interlocking tower at Clare is closed and replaced with an automatic interlocking. AA train order operations were transferred to an operator at the Union Depot. [RIW]