UD TOWER (JOLIET RAILROAD MUSEUM)

​The City of Joliet and Joliet Area Historical Museum have opened the Joliet Railroad Museum to the public on May 10, 2024. 

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 left the tower and the original control board (now disconnected) in place. 

The contents of the tower were preserved, and the City of Joliet along with the Joliet Area Historical Museum prepared to open the tower to the public as a museum and viewing platform.

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.  

(Photo during Joliet Gateway Center construction by Michael Riha)

(Interior photo of UD control room by Robby Gragg)

Blackhawk worked with the City and the Museum in preparing descriptive materials to explain the workings of the tower and the history of Joliet's railroads to future visitors.  Volunteers staff the tower, also serving as docents to explain the tower's purpose and operation.  
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• Hours of Operation: Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  
• Address: 90 East Jefferson St. Joliet, IL 60432 - Within City's Gateway Center Train Station 
  
• Admission: $5 General Admission / Free for Joliet Area Historical Museum Members 
  
• Parking: Available in public lots surrounding the Train Station, as well as metered street parking.
  The museum is ADA accessible with ADA parking located in rear of building.

(Pictures of UD Tower in 1978 by John Riha)