I'm looking for any information on operations/signalling/dispatching on the former AT&SF main between Chicago-Fort Madison-Marcelline-Kansas City.
I have two ETT's from around 1950 showing double-track, timetable/train order operation, and one from the late 1980's; by that time the line was signalled in both directions on both tracks and TCS/CTC had long since displaced all the towers except for Joliet and the major junctions in and near Chicago.
Traffic was, of course, a lot different as well. My early ETT's showed only three scheduled time freights in each direction (though I 'm sure extras and fruit blocks accounted for more), and about 8-10 passenger moves, including motor-car locals west of Fort Madison.
So if anyone could provide a bit more history, particularly a rough date for the CTC installation, please fill us in.
I have two ETT's from around 1950 showing double-track, timetable/train order operation, and one from the late 1980's; by that time the line was signalled in both directions on both tracks and TCS/CTC had long since displaced all the towers except for Joliet and the major junctions in and near Chicago.
Traffic was, of course, a lot different as well. My early ETT's showed only three scheduled time freights in each direction (though I 'm sure extras and fruit blocks accounted for more), and about 8-10 passenger moves, including motor-car locals west of Fort Madison.
So if anyone could provide a bit more history, particularly a rough date for the CTC installation, please fill us in.
