New UP/I&M OWLS Diamond at Ridgely  Contributor's Pick!       
UPs track gang is constructing a new OWLS (one-way, low speed) diamond at Ridgely. This photo was taken looking down what will be the I&Ms route across the diamond. You can see how the new diamond will lift the wheel flanges up and over the railheads of the UP mainline.
Date: 11/7/2009 Location: Springfield, IL   Map Show Springfield on a rail map Views: 1513 Collection Of:   Matthew Harrell
Author:  Matthew Harrell
New UP/I&M OWLS Diamond at Ridgely
Picture Categories: Track This picture is part of album:  Death of an Interlocking Tower
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User Comments
Name Type Comments Date
Howard Biby General inovative to say the least 11/15/2009 8:55:38 AM
Bernie Feltman General Been reading about these. UP reaps the benefits as its rail doesn't get beat up while I&M has to observe a low speed restriction. Also, notice in background the moveable pipe connections that control a switch, derail or signal 11/15/2009 11:01:20 AM
Matthew Harrell General The pipelines control the south yard switch and the accompanying switch lock. See http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=279169&nseq=4 for more details. 11/15/2009 12:00:29 PM
Matthew Harrell General One curious item about this "diamond in the rough" is that UP has it flipped the wrong way. The end on the right side of the photo will be the south end of the diamond, but as it currently sits it is pointing north. I'm sure that they can easily flip it around with a crane when its cut in, but why go thru the extra hassle? 11/15/2009 12:12:36 PM
Gregg Pullano General One little note about these pipelines... This interlocking is the FINAL OPERATING Electro-Mechanical armstrong interlocking in North America. When Ridgely closes and the yard switch is automated or replaced, a historic vice of railroad operations will end permanently. Some towers will continue to exist with operating levers, but none will remain with pipelines 11/15/2009 6:17:43 PM
Zachary Gillihan General I hope to save Ridgely, but UP rejected me then asked if we were still interested. The dates for the closing are, the switch to be cut out in April and the tower closed in May. 2010. 3/16/2010 9:55:49 PM

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