Structure, closed since 2018, makes way for track realignment
Demolition work began Monday on Union Pacific’s Lenox Tower in Mitchell, Ill., about 20 miles north of St. Louis. The tower is being razed to streamline the interlocking and remove a troublesome puzzle switch as part of a realignment project that will allow increased speeds for Amtrak Lincoln Service trains between Chicago and St. Louis. The tower closed in November 2018, according to an Alton Telegraph article, when operations were shifted to UP’s Omaha-based dispatchers.
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The “puzzle switch” at Lenox was a single slip with movable point frog controlled by levers 39, 40 & 41.
Lenox started when the CCC&St.L (NYC) and the C&A went toward Alton. (joint double track) The NYC went east at Wann. At Lenox, the NYC built a cut off to Pana with the C&EI having track rights.
The NS (Wabash) double main went west of the tower. The A&S crossed and had a connecting track with the Wabash. It also accessed the NYC Pana cut off and the NYC line to Wann.
The C&Aline later became the GM&O, ICG and the CM&W. LATER it was bought by the SPCSL, and when the UP merged with the SP it got the old C&A (Amtrak) line.
The C&EI was merged into MP.
The C&EI built a yard east of the NYC Pana tracks with dorm for employees and a turntable and coaling tower.
Lenox was controlled by NYC, then PC, Conrail, MP and finally UP.
The NYC had a built a yard west of the Pana tracks
A puzzle switch is a term used by on the ground trainmen. While on the ground it would be come puzzling as to which way it was lined. These were usually hand lined with a switch stand on all four corners. In some cases the frogs would be moveable also. Prob double slip switch was the most correct def.
Yes. The term “puzzle switch” is undefined. If you mean a “double slip switch”, please call it that or better, a “double slip turnout.”
Wasn’t familiar with the term puzzle switch. Took a quick look on google earth and I think I can see what they are talking about. Is the phrase something applied as a general class to special trackwork like double slips, single slips, and moveable point diamonds?
Lenox Tower was THE place to watch trains in the Metro East (St Louis metro area east of the Mississippi River. The Alton and Southern has retained its identity while its neighbors at Lenox have been merged, bought, or abandoned.