Interlocking: South Kearsley, MI (Flint)

South Kearsley is an automatic interlocking crossing of the CSX main line and the CN main line on the south side of Flint. This crossing was built about 1921 when the Pere Marquette (later C&O/CSX) built their Flint Belt Line around downtown Flint, crossing the GTW. It is currently known as Kearsley and is at milepost 271.8 on the CN.

Photo info: Top, the interlocking at South Kearsley in 2003. This view looks west on the CN. [Dale Berry]. 2nd image, a northbound freight crosses the diamond at South Kearsley in 1979. [Charlie Whipp]

Notes

Time Line 

1922. The PM is planning installation of two interlocking plants at Flint on the new belt line of the PM which is being built around the city. One of these plants will be a 48-lever machine with 12 spare levers and 36 working levers. This plant will handle the functions at the crossing of the Flint belt line and the GT passenger line and another crossing at the Grand Trunk freight line, the two crossings being located 3,450 feet apart. The other plant at the crossing of the Flint belt line and the Detroit United Railway will use a 16-lever frame with 8 spare levers and 8 working levers. Both of these machines will be the all electric type furnished by the Federal Signal Company, Albany, NY and an Exide type battery furnished by the Electric Storage Battery Co, charged by the trickle charge arrangement, will be used at both plants. [RSG-1922-09]

June, 1923. After inspection, the MPSC approves the use of this interlocking. [MPSC-1923]

1972. Cantilever signals were installed when the Chessie added the second main on the Flint Belt between South McGrew and Atwood Wye. Prior to this, it was single track with ground-mast signals controlled from Kearsley Tower. [DH]