Chicago Sub CTC control panel

[Ted Ferkenhoff]

I had previously posted this photo with a request for help in identifying the territory. I re-visited the photo in Photoshop and noticed the watch face was backwards, so I flipped the photo horizontally to get the correct view. Suddenly, several of the station names were identifiable.

[attachment=0:3kogruaq]Chicago Sub CTC Panel.jpg[/attachment:3kogruaq]

This panel covers the Chicago Subdivision between Watseka and Gorham, Illinois. This is timely, as this territory includes Mt. Vernon, the location of the 2017 MPHS Annual Meet. Mt Vernon can be found to the left of the microphone, and under the notes taped to the panel. It has two vertical lines representing the Southern and L&N crossings there.

Stations and interlockings are:

Top, left to right:
Watseka
Woodland Jct (end of 2 main tracks)
Goodwine (siding)
Ellis (siding)
Conrail Xing
Glover (siding)
Villa Grove (siding)
ICG & B&O Xings
Tuscola (siding)
Arthur-CR Xing
Caldwell (siding)
Sullivan – ICG Xing
Findlay Jct (siding)
[The line diverging is the Pana Sub to St Louis]
Clarksburg (siding)

Bottom, left to right:
Mode – N&W Xing
Altamont (siding)
B&O Xing
St Elmo – CR Xing
St Peter (siding)
Kinmundy – ICG Xing
Salem (siding)
B&O Xing
Kell (siding)
Mt Vernon – Sou, L&N Xings
Ina (siding)
ICG Xing
Benton Jct (Jct with line south to Joppa)
Benton (siding)
BN Xing
ICG Xing (behind the microphone)
Bush (siding)
Grimsby (siding)

Now, how to date the photo?
Prior to MP System Timetable No. 2 issued on 6/27/1971, this subdivision only had CTC between Watseka and Findlay Jct. By Timetable No. 3 issued 12/1/1972, the entire route to Gorham had CTC coverage. Mount Vernon was listed with only a 59 car siding, until Timetable No. 5 issued 8/11/1974 when no siding is show at Mount Vernon. No siding is shown for Mount Vernon in this photo (a siding would only be shown if it was a CTC controlled siding.) By Timetable No. 7 issued 10/31/1976, Mount Vernon had a new CTC-controlled siding of 143 car capacity, at 7875 feet in length. So best guess on a date for the photo is between 4/15/1973 (Timetable No. 4) and 10/31/1976 (Timetable No. 7).

I am still looking for the location of this panel and its brand/manufacturer.

[Ted Ferkenhoff]

Updated and edited, subject line changed.

[anonymous]

Ted,

I model the Salem Subdivision of the C&EI. When the C&EI was TT&TO the Salem Sub was dispatched out of Salem, IL. At some point the dispatcher job was moved to Danville. The CTC panels were located in Danville, IL. I will check on the years things moved and get back to you.

Dave Forbes

[Author]

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