UD TOWER
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(Pictures of UD Tower in 1968 and 1978 by John Riha)
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The original UD interlocking tower was built in 1913, and was operational about a year after Joliet Union Station opened. UD Tower overlooks the crossing of the former Rock Island with the former Santa Fe and Alton railroads. The tower housed the controls for the operators over the signals and switches leading up to the crossing and the depot. Formerly staffed by Metra (and previous to them, the Rock Island,) UD was closed and automated as part of the Joliet Gateway Center project and the signaling and control functions were transferred to Union Pacific in Omaha and BNSF in Fort Worth. (The control point is still named "UD Tower.")
With the building of Joliet Gateway Center, the tower building was kept in place. Original plans had it being demolished, but the base of the tower forms the embankment the tracks sit on, and the project planners (thanks to some lobbying from interested parties, including Blackhawk's own Bill Molony) left the tower and the original control board (now disconnected) in place.
The contents of the tower were preserved, and the City of Joliet and the Joliet Area Historical Museum have announced they will be opening the tower to the public as a museum and viewing platform.
With the building of Joliet Gateway Center, the tower building was kept in place. Original plans had it being demolished, but the base of the tower forms the embankment the tracks sit on, and the project planners (thanks to some lobbying from interested parties, including Blackhawk's own Bill Molony) left the tower and the original control board (now disconnected) in place.
The contents of the tower were preserved, and the City of Joliet and the Joliet Area Historical Museum have announced they will be opening the tower to the public as a museum and viewing platform.
(Photo during Joliet Gateway Center construction by Michael Riha)
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(Interior photo of UD control room by Robby Gragg)
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Blackhawk is working with the City of Joliet and the Joliet Area Historical Museum in preparing descriptive materials to explain the workings of the tower and the history of Joliet's railroads to future visitors. After a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City and the Museum have formally announced they intend to open the tower to the public in August of 2023. Click here to download the CIty of Joliet's document describing the Railroad Exhibit at Union Depot.
The current plan will have the tower open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the same hours the Joliet Gateway Center train station waiting room is open, for security purposes. They will have volunteers staff the tower, also serving as docents to explain the tower's purpose and operation.
At Blackhawk's October 2022 meeting, Jayne Bernhard from the City of Joliet, and Steven Wright from the Joliet Area Historical Museum were on hand to announce the future plans for the tower. They are looking for volunteers, as well as soliciting ideas for marketing it to tourists and railfans. Railstream has expressed interest in setting up a webcam at the crossing.
The current plan will have the tower open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the same hours the Joliet Gateway Center train station waiting room is open, for security purposes. They will have volunteers staff the tower, also serving as docents to explain the tower's purpose and operation.
At Blackhawk's October 2022 meeting, Jayne Bernhard from the City of Joliet, and Steven Wright from the Joliet Area Historical Museum were on hand to announce the future plans for the tower. They are looking for volunteers, as well as soliciting ideas for marketing it to tourists and railfans. Railstream has expressed interest in setting up a webcam at the crossing.